Dover football's playmaking shines in opening rout of Manchester Memorial

DOVER — More often than not, expectations can be thrown out the window for the first game of a new season.

The only thing Eric Cumba knew he could count on was an overwhelming enthusiasm from his Dover High football team as it returned to a sense of normalcy following a unique 2020 campaign altered by COVID-19.

The energy was evident out of the gate for the Green Wave and they rode it wire-to-wire in a 40-6 drubbing of Manchester Memorial in Friday's Division I opener. Dover scored on each of its first four possessions and had three players reel off scoring plays of 40 yards or more to collect the season-opening triumph.

"After a year like last year, where we didn't get to have a full crowd, there were just a lot of emotions going on," Cumba said. "That was a great way to start and the kids did a great job of responding right away."

While Dover quarterback Darian Sullivan-Lopez was the catalyst for the Green Wave with four rushing touchdowns, it became clear from the get-go that Dover's offense will be layered with playmaking ability this season. Included in Dover's early scoring barrage were two Sullivan-Lopez scores to go along with Brady McInnes' 62-yard touchdown on the game's second play and a 95-yard kickoff return for a score from Brett Davis.

"We started off hot and were ready from the jump," Sullivan-Lopez said. "I think that's just the offense we have and the guys I'm surrounded by. I've got a great family around me and everyone's a playmaker. I'm just excited to be part of this circle."

Davis' kick return was an early dagger to Memorial's hopes of keeping pace. The junior's big run came just 18 seconds after Memorial had drawn to within a score on a Chase Burris 60-yard touchdown off a swing pass from Braden Hafeman. Davis found the end zone before the Crusaders had even wrapped up congratulations on the sidelines for the score prior.

"I saw a hole up the middle, probably about hash to hash at most. I just saw it and hit it as hard as I could," Davis said. "There was just that one kid at the end, but that was about it. Just full of excitement after that."

Davis, Sullivan-Lopez and McInnes each had a pair of running plays that went for 35 yards or more while Gabriel Rubio and Christian Morrison also showed off similar athleticism at different points. The common thread for all of Dover's skill players was their ability to shake off defenders and continue to take extra yards with defenders in tow.

"Those kids were very committed to improving themselves in the offseason," Cumba said. "They didn't wait for us (to get in the weight room). They've been in there since last November. Brady McInnes scored that touchdown on one shoe after losing the other while breaking that initial tackle. A lot of that is attitude and effort. He wanted it more than anyone else at that point in time and he made it happen.

"We talk about it all the time, but the only thing you can control is your effort and your effort is what is going to bring you places you've never been before."

Not to be outdone by the offense, the Green Wave defense produced a standout performance to set the tone for the weeks to come. After Burris' touchdown for the Crusaders in the first quarter, Dover held Memorial scoreless over its final nine possessions.

Dover also benefitted from the luxury of not seeing Memorial's talented tailback Kai Colson, who missed the opener and was sporting crutches on the sideline. Erik Seymore's 92 yards on ground made up the majority of Memorial's offensive punch while Burris had 80 total yards on two touches.

The stymieing effort by the Green Wave was highlighted by a Davis interception, sacks by Matt Proulx and James Brackett, and a forced fumble and recovery. Davis was among a slew of Dover players playing a majority of the snaps on either side of the ball the entire night, making the production seen from both units that much more impressive.

"The game isn't too fast for them now," said Cumba, pointing to the two-way efforts of Lopez-Sullivan, Davis, McInnes, Rubio and others. "It's slowed down because they're comfortable and understand what's going on around them to the point where the reactions to most situations are just a lot faster."