Seahawks Hit the Road for Opener Tonight

BERLIN- As it prepares for the season opener tonight on the road at Rising Sun in Cecil County, Stephen Decatur's varsity football team is hoping become the life of the state playoff party this year and not just a quickly forgotten guest.

Two years ago, Decatur finished 6-4 and narrowly missed the state playoffs in their first year at Class 3A. Last year, the Seahawks picked up another win, went 7-3, and earned a number-three seed in the state Class 3A-East. The Seahawks were quickly dispatched in the region semifinals, falling to second-seeded Fallston, 31-6.

This year, Decatur hopes to not only get back to the state playoffs, but make a little noise and advance beyond the first round. The Seahawks lost several key players from last year's state playoff team, but appears to have plenty of athletes on both sides of the ball to continue the progression of the program.

Junior Tyler Hartrim will likely start at quarterback, replacing last year's starter Tim Donnelly, who is now at the University of Delaware. Decatur will likely find a way to get the ball in hands of seniors Delonte Tate and Andrew Brickey, who will both double as running backs and wide receivers. Senior Tom Lubeski will provide a big target on the outside at wide receiver, while John Rich and Mike Meekins should also get plenty of carries. In the trenches, Dylan Drew is expected to anchor both the offensive and defensive lines.

The 2009 campaign gets underway tonight with a rare road opener against Rising Sun in Cecil County. The Seahawks will then return home for home games against Washington and North Caroline before a highly anticipated road game against Bayside North power Queen Anne's.