Awards highlight Monday’s 19th state football banquet

Glenn FrazerHeadlines, Sports

Dover football coach Chip Knapp (L) being awarded 3A Coach of the Year by Sussex Central football coach John Wells (R), photo by Glenn Frazer

 

The 19th annual DOS All State Football Banquet was held Monday night in Dover hosted by the Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association (DIFCA). Players were recognized in the three classifications (1A – 2A – 3A) for All State, Sportsmanship, and those student athletes that achieved a minimum GPA of 3.75 for academic honors.

The coach of the year in class 1A was Joey Jones of Laurel, the 2A COY was awarded to Rob Tattersall, and the 3A honor went to Dover’s Chip Knapp. The Assistant COY went to Smyrna Defensive Coordinator Dan Wagner. Head coaches that are retiring were also honored. Bob Tattersall is retiring after helping his son Rob guide Wilmington Friends to the 2A championship this season. Bob is the winningest all-time in Delaware with 331 victories and 28 Independent Conference titles and the school’s only other state championship in 1984. Also stepping down from coaching are Frank Moffett of Hodgson Vo Tech (2003-2022) who led the Silver Eagles to 4 state championships, and Randy Holmes from Mount Pleasant (1997-2022).

Two head coaches were recognized for achieving milestone wins. Sussex Central’s John Wells secured win number 200 this season, and Bill DiNardo of Salesianum garnered his 300th victory. 

I had the pleasure of sitting next to Mr. and Mrs. Hollis Smack. Mr. Smack was honored for his 40 years as a referee with the Delmarva Football Officials Association from 1970 to 2010. He has the distinction of being the first African-American to referee for the Henlopen Conference. Hollis grew up in Bridgeville and played sports for the former Bridgeville High School. He and his charming wife still reside in the small western Sussex County town.

The banquet was held at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover.

 

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