The William Penn vs. Newark match-up is thought to be one of the biggest rivalries in the area dating back to the 1950’s. Alumni from both schools present on Saturday stood to be recognized by the fans. The Blue Hen Flight A rivals have won 18 of the 39 DIAA Division I football championships since the playoffs were split into two divisions in 1975. Newark has won 10 titles, while William Penn has eight. They combined to win every D-I. This was a match of No. 1 William Penn (4-0) and No. 8 Newark (4-0) threatening for another title going into Saturday’s 1 p.m. kickoff at Bill Cole Stadium.

MVP

Isaiah Gaynor

William Penn

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Zachariah Burton

William Penn

Zachariah is the highest GPA Senior on the team. He has played many sports for the colonials and is an All-star in football, baseball and track. Zachariah will be the first student in the district history to graduate early and have a head start on his college career. He will be graduating in December and looks forward to attending UVA in the spring where plans to go into Sports Medicine.

Andrew Mark DelPericio

Newark

Andrew is a 3 year letterman in varsity football. He has played quarterback and safety. Andrew is a 3 season athlete. He wrestles in the winter and plays out field for the baseball team which he was named captain of the team last year as a junior.

HALL OF FAME

Bill Cole

William Penn

William “Bill” Cole was a Wilmington native who graduated from P. S. du Pont High. He passed away at the age of 91 this year in the spring. He was a star running back at University of Delaware and then went on to coach William Penn football 1949-73. He racked up a 148-71-10 record over 25 seasons and was the long time athletic director for the Colonials. The William Penn High School Football stadium has been renamed “Bill Cole Stadium” in honor of the late and dearly missed athletic director.

Ray Bias

Newark

Coach Ray Bias is a graduate and a former player from the 1970 Rivalry game between Newark and William Penn Schools. In his senior year as a captain and a quarterback, he led the Yellowjackets, coming from behind to win the game 14-13. They went on to an undefeated season and Ray was named all state Quarterback. Ray went on to play 4 years at Delaware additional honors and completed his Bachelors of Science degree. Ray continued Yellowjacket tradition settling to raise a family and coaching Newark for the past 28 years.

GAME SUMMARY

This was not one of Newark’s better games. William Penn’s Keith Johnson took opening kickoff 91 yards for touchdown knocking down only 14 seconds of the clock. Shortly following Johnson’s performance, William Penn’s Terin Cochran returned a punt 44 yards for a touchdown bringing Penn’s early lead to a cushiony 14-0. William Penn’s Jahsan Gildersleeve closed out the half with 26-yd touchdown run. Penn’s dominance continued when scholar athlete, Zachariah Burton started the half with 9-yd touchdown run. Newark’s Pressey hauls in TD pass from Lambert before the close of the game taking the score to 35-7, making for an easy victory by William Penn High School.