MaxPreps 2013 Delaware preseason football Fab 5

MaxPreps 2013 Delaware Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard 1. Middletown
Head coach: Mark DelPercio (10th season)
2012 finish: 12-0, state champions (2nd straight state title)
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Two-time defending state champion Middletown returns five starters on both offense and defense. Penn State-commit Chris Godwin returns after a junior season during which he was named the Delaware Player of the Year and was selected first-team All-State at wide receiver (42 catches for 834 yards, 12 TDs), linebacker (35 tackles) and kick returner (4 TDs). Delaware Offensive Player of the Year and Boston College-commit Darius Wade (Sr., 6-2, 180) returns at quarterback (116 completions, 2,275 yards, 27 TDs; 546 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and should also see action at safety this year, according to coach Mark DelPercio. Defensively, Middletown is led by first team All-State senior defensive tackle Jacob Bricker (41 tackles).

Despite two straight titles and appearing in the state championship game the past three seasons, DelPercio is not worried about motivating his team.

"I have been very pleased with the offseason work ethic and focus of my team," DelPercio said. "Our community has always embraced a team that plays with relentless pursuit and intensity."

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2. Caesar Rodney (Camden)
Head coach: Mike Schoenwolf (7th season)
2012 finish: 8-4, state playoff semifinals
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Caesar Rodney is the only team that came close to defeating Middletown last season and with 17 returning starters, many believe the Riders are the only team with a chance to dethrone the state champions.

Senior quarterback Alex Kemp (660 yards, 4 TDs) has second-team All-State wide receiver Kendall Wicks (15 receptions, 335 yards, 3 TDs) as his main target. On the other side of the ball, the Riders will look to second-team All-State defensive tackle Joshua Herrmann to anchor a defense that will be tested early with quite possibly the toughest first-half schedule in the First State.

"We are excited to begin the year," Schoenwolf said. "Our schedule is tough to start with Salesianum and Middletown, but if we survive we should have an idea of where we are at that point."

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3. Salesianum (Wilmington)
Head coach: Bill DiNardo
2012 finish: 10-2, state playoffs finals
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Three-year starter and Penn State-commit Troy Reeder returns for his senior season to anchor the offense at running back and defense at his middle linebacker position as the Sals look to make a return trip to the state title game.

Despite being hampered by an injury for most of the latter part of the season, Reeder was a first-team All-State selection at linebacker and a third-team choice at running back (580 yards, 12 TDs), where he averaged more than seven yards per carry. Salesianum’s traditional grind-it-out, run-featured offense will be directed by returning senior quarterback Matt Sgro, who, when he’s not handing the ball to Reeder, will look to pass to Pittsburgh-bound senior tight end Brian O'Neill, who was a third-team All-State defensive end.

"Salesianum will be strong, as usual, but it might be hard to repeat last year's run to the championship game with a large number of graduated seniors to replace," WDEL’s sports announcer Don Voltz said. "However, with two Division 1 recruits and last year’s starter back at quarterback, the Sals will still be among the state's best. And as always, Salesianum will be solid fundamentally and look to grind out wins with ball control."

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4. St. Mark's (Wilmington)
Head coach: John Wilson (9th season)
2012 finish: 9-3, state playoff semifinals
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The Spartans may have lost 24 seniors from last season, but coach John Wilson is confident the players who saw significant playing time as backups in 2012 will nicely supplement four returning starters on each side of the ball.

Quarterback Zachary Whitehead (Sr., 1,564 yards, 13 TDs) returns for his senior campaign and has senior running back Taaron Brown (732 yards, 8 TDs) and wide receiver Michael Catalano in his arsenal. The defense is led by second-team All-State senior linebacker Brendan Fogarty (85 tackles).

"Although we lost 24 seniors last year and I only have nine seniors this year, I still like my team and our chances to compete," Wilson said.

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5. Sussex Central (Georgetown)
Head coach: John Wells (17th season)
2012 finish: 8-3, state playoffs first round
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The Golden Knights enter the 2013 campaign having lost 20 seniors. However, coach John Wells is confident that this year’s seniors have what it takes to have his team back in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

According to Wells, the strength of the Golden Knights will be on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in the secondary and defensive line, led by nose guard Tyshawn Hicks. On offense, wide receiver Terez White and halfback Kevin Simms return to their starting positions and will get support from fullback James Jenkins, who was an integral part of last year’s backfield rotation.

"I am very excited about the enthusiasm of the young kids," Wells said. "I think we have the potential to be a top team by season’s end."

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Jon Buzby is the sports columnist for the Newark Post and on the radio broadcast team for the 1290 The Ticket High School Football and Basketball Games of the Week.