Berlin Dolphins Bow Out of Playoffs

BERLIN- The Berlin Dolphins’ Salvation Army “Red Shield” League teams closed out their 2011 seasons with playoff losses, one of which came after a forfeit over a technical, seldom used rule infraction.

The Berlin Junior Dolphins fell to the second-seeded Wicomico Vikings, 26-13, in the playoffs in a game much closer than the final score indicated. The Junior Dolphins took an early 13-0 lead after the defense set the offense up with short fields on consecutive drives. However, the Vikings took the lead with two second half touchdowns including two extra point conversions for a 14-13 lead. The extra point conversions would prove to be significant later in the game.

With six minutes remaining in the game, the Junior Dolphins drove to the Wicomico nine-yard line before turning the ball over on downs on a fourth-and-one situation. With the clock ticking down, the Berlin defense was forced to use its remaining timeouts and set up a fourth-and-two for Wicomico, but the Vikings busted an 80-yard run for a touchdown to increase its lead to 20-13.

Berlin trailed by a touchdown but still had time left to attempt a comeback. After a couple of pass completions, the Dolphins attempted a last-minute Hail Mary pass, which was intercepted and returned for another touchdown to seal the 26-13 win for the Vikings.

Meanwhile, the Berlin Cadet Dolphins won their playoff game on the field, upsetting the second-seeded Salisbury Bulldogs, but were forced to forfeit the contest because of a rarely enforced rules technicality.