All-Class 1A football: St. Elizabeth, Laurel shine in new division

The new Class 1A was created this season to give some of Delaware’s smallest, least-successful high school football programs a chance to thrive.

St. Elizabeth and Laurel have taken full advantage, going undefeated within their districts and reaching the first 1A championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Delaware Stadium.

The Vikings and Bulldogs also made impressive showings when the 1A coaches voted on their All-State team, released Monday by the Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association.

St. Elizabeth running back Quasim Benson was named the Class 1A Offensive Player of the Year.
St. Elizabeth running back Quasim Benson was named the Class 1A Offensive Player of the Year.

Both St. E and Laurel took seven spots on the first team. The Vikings’ Quasim Benson was named Offensive Player of the Year, and Mike Lemon was the Coach of the Year.

The Bulldogs’ Kyler Weaver was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Indian River two-way star T.J. Burke was named the Lineman of the Year.

FINALS BOUND: After previous OT squeaker, Laurel handles IR to reach 1A title game

Laurel’s Javier White made the first team three ways – as a running back, defensive back and returner. The Bulldogs’ J.J. Parker-Cannon made it two ways at guard and defensive tackle. Linebackers Weaver and Evan Collins also made the first team from Laurel.

Two-way standout T.J. Burke of Indian River (left) was named the Class 1A Lineman of the Year.
Two-way standout T.J. Burke of Indian River (left) was named the Class 1A Lineman of the Year.

St. Elizabeth’s Andre Green was a two-way selection at center and defensive end. Benson (running back), Mitchell Butler (offensive tackle), Carl Taylor (defensive tackle), Eric O’Neill (linebacker) and Christopher Caracter (defensive back) also made the first team from the Vikings.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

SOLID WIN: Quasim Benson scores four as St. Elizabeth grinds past Tatnall in 1A semifinals

DIFCA All-Class 1A team

First team

OFFENSE

QB – Mike Lilley, sr., St. Andrew’s

FB – Dalton Hall, sr., Indian River

RB – Quasim Benson, jr., St. Elizabeth

RB – Javier White, sr., Laurel

WR – Brandon Graves, sr., St. Andrew’s

WR – Dalton Hignutt, sr., Seaford

WR – Tenye Martin, jr., Charter of Wilmington

TE – Laron Horsey, sr., Indian River

C – Andre Green, sr., St. Elizabeth’

G – T.J. Burke, sr., Indian River

G – J.J. Parker-Cannon, sr., Laurel

OT – Mitchell Butler, jr., St. Elizabeth

OT – Cliff Toomey, sr., Indian River

Laurel's Kyler Weaver (32) was named the Class 1A Defensive Player of the Year.
Laurel's Kyler Weaver (32) was named the Class 1A Defensive Player of the Year.

DEFENSE

DE – Andre Green, sr., St. Elizabeth

DE – Ashton Stephens, jr., Indian River

DT – T.J. Burke, sr., Indian River

DT – J.J. Parker-Cannon, sr., Laurel

DT – Carl Taylor, jr., St. Elizabeth

LB – Kyler Weaver, sr., Laurel

LB – Evan Collins, jr., Laurel

LB – Eric O’Neill, jr., St. Elizabeth

LB – Nick Duncan, sr., Charter of Wilmington

DB – Javier White, sr., Laurel

DB – Hayden Hall, jr., Indian River

DB – Christopher Caracter, jr., St. Elizabeth

DB – Tenye Martin, jr., Charter of Wilmington

SPECIAL TEAMS

K – Tony Wang, sr., St. Andrew’s

P – Tristen Hood, sr., Indian River

RET – Javier White, sr., Laurel

St. Elizabeth's Mike Lemon was named the Class 1A Coach of the Year.
St. Elizabeth's Mike Lemon was named the Class 1A Coach of the Year.

Second team

OFFENSE

QB – Kaden Shockley, jr., Lau. FB – Brett Shelton-Hoskins, jr., Poly. RB – Hayden Hall, jr., IR; Rahshan LaMons, so., Tat. WR – Christopher Caracter, jr., SE; Brady Lee, jr., Lau; Jordan Earl, so., Ode. TE – Trent Odrick, jr., Chr. C – Brayden Hearn, jr., Lau; G – Justin Smith, so., Tat; Ibrahim Kazi, jr., SA. OT – Owen Chaffinch, so., Lau; Nick Oxnam, sr., SA.

DEFENSE

DE – Patrick Belle, so., Lau; Nick Oxnam, sr., SA. DT – Jack Williamson, sr., IR; Phin Hunt, sr., SA; Mitchell Butler, jr., SE. LB – Zach Holmes, jr., Sea; Gavin Danieri, sr., IR; Dalton Hall, sr., IR; Will Dulaney, jr., SA. DB – Tre’von Paulson, fr., Sea; Donovan Roos, jr., IR; Nick Osbourne, jr., SA; Nyzair Love, jr., Chr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K – Mike Gonzalez-Perez, jr., Lau. P – Tony Wang, sr., SA. RET – Tenye Martin, jr., CSW.

Coach of the Year – Mike Lemon, St. Elizabeth.

Offensive Player of the Year – Quasim Benson, St. Elizabeth.

Defensive Player of the Year – Kyler Weaver, Laurel.

Lineman of the Year – T.J. Burke, Indian River.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware high school football All-Class 1A team