Silverdale Baptist Academy’s response to adversity during Friday’s Division II-AA East Region football matchup with visiting Christian Academy of Knoxville left the Seahawks on the wrong end of a 35-0 final score.
First-year Silverdale coach Mike Connor hopes his team’s response between now and the next game is much better.
CAK (5-0), ranked No. 2 in DII-AA, won its region opener in dominant fashion, with the Warriors using their size and strength on the defensive front extremely well to allow only 55 yards of total offense.
Their pass rush was effective, too, and when they notched their third sack of the game on the first play of the second quarter, it jarred the football loose for CAK’s second fumble recovery deep in Silverdale territory.
READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night’s Chattanooga-area high school football games
Sophomore running back Dario Love helped the Warriors capitalize on both takeaways, scoring a touchdown after each. Love was impressive on the run, spinning and evading tacklers for 128 yards on 13 carries, and his second touchdown gave the visitors a 23-0 lead with 11:24 before halftime.
“That was the most physical team we have played all year,” said Connor, whose Seahawks dropped to 2-2 overall, 1-1 in the region. “We have to own tonight. There is no transfer of blame. We are all responsible for that outcome. The question is what are we going to do different?
“It all comes down to preparation. The team that won the game was the one that responded the best when it mattered most. Tomorrow the sun will come up and we get a chance to get better for Grace.”
CAK scored its other two touchdowns on a 43-yard punt return by Walker Strange and an 83-yard kickoff return by the speedy Kanye Harris to build a 32-0 advantage after the first play of the second half. The running clock was in effect with 8:32 left in the third quarter after the Warriors’ second field goal, which followed an interception.
Silverdale could find no rhythm in the passing game, and the only two big gains for the Seahawks were a 24-yard run by Turner Junkins and a 78-yard punt return by Connor Delashmitt.
A junior, Delashmitt entered the game with 406 rushing yards on 63 carries this season, which included a 32-carry, five-touchdown performance to help the program beat Notre Dame for the first time two weeks ago in a region victory. He was held to 41 yards on 18 plays from scrimmage against CAK.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Silverdale Baptist Academy running back Connor Delashmitt carries the ball in the first half of Friday night’s home game against Christian Academy of Knoxville. Delashmitt had the only big gain for the Seahawks, a 78-yard kickoff return in the second half of a 35-0 loss for the hosts.