For The Dialog
The boys’ schedules for the first week of October are incredible as there are two top-five football showdowns and a soccer battle between two nationally ranked teams.
Soccer
Monday
Salesianum (6-1) at Kingsway (N.J.) (5-2-2), 4 p.m. The Sals lost to Kingsway last year in overtime.
Sussex Academy (3-2) at St. Thomas More (1-5), 4 p.m. The Ravens are looking for a home win before having 11 days off.
Tuesday
Archmere (5-2) at Conrad (0-6), 3:30 p.m. The fourth-ranked Auks look to bounce back after their second double-overtime loss.
Sanford (3-3) at St. Elizabeth (3-3), 3:45 p.m. The Vikings look to get back in the win column, but the Warriors have pushed top-five teams to the limit.
St. Mark’s (4-0-1) at Newark (5-0-1), 6:30 p.m. The No. 2 Spartans got a nice double overtime win over Archmere on Saturday. They faces a tough Yellow Jackets team on the road.
Thursday
St. Elizabeth at St. Mark’s, 3:45 p.m.
Saturday
St. Mark’s at Newark Charter (5-0), 12:30 p.m. The Spartans have a tough road test in the third-ranked Patriots on the road.
St. Andrew’s (3-0-1) at Archmere, 1 p.m. (Homecoming)
St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.) (7-1-1) vs. Salesianum, 5:30 p.m. at Caravel. The Sals are actually ranked higher nationally than the Prep, but a win may move them up from the sixth spot.
Football
Friday
St. Mark’s (4-0) at Delaware Military Academy (3-1), 7 p.m., Baynard Stadium. The second-ranked Spartans 
have been impressive this year. Led by quarterback Billy Sullivan, they have won all their games by 20-plus points. No. 5 DMA looked good holding off St.. Elizabeth last week.
Salesianum (3-1) at Middletown (4-0), 7:30 p.m. The fourth-ranked Sals have their hands full again with No. 2 Middletown. The Cavs’ defense has only given up six points all season, while their offense averages in excess of 40 points a game. The Sals rebounded last week at Caravel and look for the road upset as moving Josh Patrick to running back helped their offense.
Saturday
Friends (3-1) at St. Elizabeth (2-2), 2 p.m. The Vikings look to rebound after their comeback against the Seahawks came up short. Stopping Chris Cropper is the fourth-ranked Quakers priority.
Caravel (1-3) at Archmere (2-2), 3 p.m. (homecoming). The Auks look to end their two-game losing streak against a Buccaneers team that gave Sallies a tough time last week. Both of these teams have had some key injuries that have slowed down their playoff chances.
