<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=438433_1FDYqPaP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=438433_1FDYqPaP00" width="1001" height="465" ><figcaption>Caesar Rodney and Hodgson line up in a 2026 Week 2 matchup Delmarva Sports Network</figcaption></figure>It takes at least a week to start to really things how things may have changed in sports, as you get one result, and then both teams face other opponents that start to paint the overall canvas of a season.Some teams made massive turnaround from last year, most notably John Dickinson, who was outscored 94-22 (-72) against Tower Hill and Saint Andrew's last year, but this year actually ended up with a positive 38-36 (+2) result this year.Then there's Early College High School, which had never beaten a team that played in the previous year's postseason, only to defeat McKean 18-14.What will they all mean? We'll eventually know even more, but signs of progress, especially for programs who have struggled mightily, is a great sign.Not much at the top has changed, although the top 2 1A teams both defeated 2A playoff contenders, certainly posing the question what the DIAA Competition Committee will do with Seaford and Newark Charter next year.But that's for next year's playoffs, we still have Week 3 to come in 2026.If you're new here, we look at things through the lens of the postseason, because when you only play 10, every game does matter.OUTCOMEWIN - 4 PointsTIE - 2 Points (Given OT is a thing, doesn't happen without outside factors)LOSS - 0 PointsOPPONENT RECORD.000-.499 - 0 Points.500-.699 - 1 Point.700-.899 - 2 Points.900-1.000 - 3 PointsIn General terms, if an opponent plays 10 games, which most in Delaware do, if they win 5 or 6 games you get 1 point, 7 or 8, 2 points, and 9 or 10, 3 points. CLASSIFICATION2 Bonus Points if....1A plays a 2A or 3A2A plays a 3AClassification bonus points are not available for out-of-state opponents, but you can earn winning percentage points on their first 10 games.Last year, these were the point indexes for the No. 8 seeds.3A - Cape Henlopen - 28 Points (2.8 index, 2024: Cape Henlopen - 3.4)2A - Laurel - 36 Points (3.6 index, 2024: DMA - 3.7)1A - Conrad- 32 Points (3.2 index, 2024: FSMA - 3.2)Looking at those indexes, it shows how important it is to make sure you don't play "0-point games", meaning don't lose to a team that finishes below .500, and that's where we get to the big games in Week 1.We'll start posting the playoff standings around Week 4, or so, but they'll often get referenced as we consider the meaning of games each week.DELMARVA SPORTS NETWORK STREAMING SCHEDULEYou can sign up for Delaware's best all-sports streaming coverage on the Delmarva Sports Network, with up to 7 games from all sports each week night between DSN and DSN+ streaming. It also gains you access to The Final Score, Delaware's post Friday night postgame highlight roundup. Cable customers in Kent and Sussex County will be able to watch the main DSN broadcast feed and the Final Score throughout the season, but the additional games are only available on the streaming service.FRIDAYAppoquinimink at Dover - 6 p.m. (DSN+)Laurel at Cambridge-South Dorchester (MD) - 6 p.m. (DSN+)Friends at Delmar - 7 p.m. (DSN+)SATURDAYLong Island Lutheran (NY) at Red Lion - 1 p.m. (WDEL Radio)CLASS 3ACape Henlopen 33, William Penn 19 - I'm not sure a lot of people saw this game being 7-7 at the half, but the Colonials used a successful 11-minute drive to keep the ball out of the hands of Jamison Tingle and the Vikings. Three third-quarter touchdowns settled down the Vikings, although two touchdowns against their reserves made the score closer. That said, Cam Gardner and Robert Daniels made some big plays, and if the Colonials can find ways to get those two in harmony, they will be trouble as the season moves along.Caesar Rodney 40, Hodgson 12 - Gavin Johnson threw for 223 yards and 5 touchdowns, as the Riders bounced right back from the Easton (MD) loss in stride. Denzel Jones had 104 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Jaxon Timmons rushed for 130 yards. Even Brody Hinkle had a pair of field goals, checking every box. Hodgson is starting to get into important game territory quickly with DMA next week.NEXT WEEKDSN+ STREAMING: Appoquinimink (1-0) at Dover (0-1) - 6 p.m., Friday. The only 3A vs. 3A game this week, is both team's first in-state game. Bryce Alleman threw for 2 TDs last week, with Jayden Triplett rushing for two more. The Jags getting a running game going this year could be a welcome change for what has been a pass-heavy team. Dover kept this to 34-20 last year, in one of their closest games of a tough 2025 campaign. Could be a good sign of progress.Hodgson (0-2) at DMA (2-0) - 7 p.m., Friday. This will go in both 3A and 2A, but from Hodgson's perspective, this was a win last year for a team that finished 3-7 and missed the tournament. They will be chasing points if they can't find a win here, but their defense last year had the Seahawks clamped down except for one two-point conversion.CLASS 2AWoodbridge 30, Friends 18 - Woodbridge managed to equal last year's win total (1), going on a 23-point streak in the middle of the game, including two touchdown passes from Daulton McCabe and a field goal from Andrew Ritts. A tough start for a Quakers team that lists just 30 varsity players.Laurel 20, Brandywine 13 - "The Battle For the Bone" stays in Sussex County, as Laurel picks up what could be a lucrative win, depending on whether Brandywine can get to 7 wins this season. A 20-0 halftime lead nearly evaporated, but still an important win for a team that will almost certainly get maximum bonus points for the Stephen Decatur win.NEXT WEEKHodgson (0-2) at DMA (2-0) - 7 p.m., Friday. Let's go right back here again, and note that DMA made several crucial turnovers in a loss that pretty much was the reason they didn't not make last year's state tournament. 6-point victories (because Hodgson is 3A) really, really look good when calculating points, so this is a big opportunity here.DSN+ STREAMING: Friends (0-1) at Delmar (1-1) - 7 p.m, Friday. The Quakers certainly aren't afraid to head into Sussex County to find opponents, but last year this turned into a 29-14 loss. Quakers were able to hit some big plays against Woodbridge last week, and handling Delmar's triple-option will prove vital. Delmar's defense stopped up against Colonel Richardson last week, after giving up 48 the week before. Now we can test it with a Delaware opponent.Indian River (0-2) at Milford (1-1) - 7 p.m., Friday. The Indians have played two likely playoff teams in Odessa and Seaford, but it's starting to get late for the team that has played in its last two available state championship games. A loss here, and it may be getting close to "division title or bust" for the Indians. Milford made a big 180 two weeks ago defeating Conrad 44-0, but now they begin facing old Henlopen South rivals, so how big is that improvement?Archmere (1-0) at Saint Mark's (0-2) - 7 p.m., Friday. Archmere wasn't really tested against an undermanned St. Elizabeth team (more in the 1A section), but Saint Mark's is winless against a pair of 3A teams, and now face what could be a very strong 2A team. The Auks brought a lot back from a hard-hitting defense, and the Spartans have struggled to score points. Saint Mark's can't afford too many more losses with IR and a potentially tricky William Penn game next on the schedule.CLASS 1AArchmere 50, Saint Elizabeth 0 - It was not a competitive game, but that does not diminish the competitive spirit of both teams, especially 20-man Saint Elizabeth in the contest. This would appear to be the only game on paper where Saint E shouldn't be competitive, but with two players getting hurt in the second half, the roster margins are tight. As both teams posted this week, the sportsmanship was top notch on a hot day, and honestly what you want to see in high school football, at a time when sportsmanship doesn't seem to matter at all at some places nationally.Early College 18, McKean 14 - Early College, which will be undergoing a name change this week, picked up their biggest win at Mike Drass Field in school history, defeating the 2025 1A semifinalists. Until Friday, their only wins in program history were against either Dickinson or A.I. duPont. A tough start for McKean who now has to deal with Howard and Red Lion the next two weeks.John Dickinson 26, St. Andrew's 8 - The Rams hadn't defeated anyone except for A.I. since McKean in 2023. The Rams scored the first 26 points of the game, after losing 42-6 in this fixture last year. Could this be the turning point for the program, who hung with Tower Hill last week?Brandywine (1-1) at Newark (1-0) - Friday, 4 p.m. - Brandywine won this game 22-6 a year ago, and how will they handle Chase Beauparlant and the Bulldog offense? An early indicator for where Newark, and ultimately their Christina School District colleagues, will fit in 1A this year.John Dickinson (1-1) at Delcastle (0-1) - Saturday, 11 a.m. - Delcastle won this game 44-0, and are coming off a thumping by Academy Park (PA) just like last year.Christiana (0-1) at Mount Pleasant (0-2) - Saturday, Noon - Mount Pleasant has already given 6-point victories to Brandywine and Concord, and now Christiana, who figures to be on the playoff bubble, gets their chance. Glasgow still has a game against the Green Knights looming, so this may be a very, very important 1A playoff result.</div></body>

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It takes at least a week to start to really things how things may have changed in sports, as you get one result, and then both teams face other opponents that start to paint the overall canvas of a season. Some teams made massive turnaround from last year, most notably...

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