Darby Klopp glitters like gold, upping everyone’s game

Girl Scout Gold Award - “You got gold, gold inside of you, well I got some, gold inside me too.” - John Prine. Darby Klopp elevated everyone’s game Sept. 12 at Champions Stadium, wearing her sash and carrying yellow flowers to celebrate her Girl Scout Gold Award. Her project was the on-field press table, which Nancy Smith and Dover scorekeepers  Regan Torbert and William Shallenberger never left over two games – it’s that cool and comfy. “The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouts. Open only to girls in high school, the Girl Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious award in the world for girls – and the most difficult to earn – and it’s only available to Girl Scouts.” I must add that after the game, younger sister Riley Klopp said to me, “Thanks for coming and taking pictures.” I don’t know if Riley’s a Girl Scout, but she gets a Fredman Old Gold Award from this second-class citizen (Boy Scout joke book).

Commiseration - Sophomore Regan Torbert is listed as a manager for the Dover field hockey team. Last year, she played the second half in goal in the Senators’ 2-1 upset win over Cape. She plays basketball too, but her best sport is lacrosse, where she plays goalie. Her dad is former Dover Athletic Director Eric Torbert and her grandfather is Kevin Charles, retired DIAA executive director. The point is, she comes from an athletic family, but being injured is the hardest ordeal for any athlete. Regan lost me at hip labrum and upcoming scheduled surgery. I just told her as a grandfather of three lax girls shut down – two to ACL and one to a broken foot – I could relate and wished her all the best. Sussex Tech stellar soccer player Patrick Short was seriously injured last Friday in a football game, when a would-be kick blocker ran into his leg on an extra-point attempt. Best of luck to Patrick.

Thank you, God - I was standing on the field next to Cape football coach George Glenn during a summer scrimmage in 1996. Darnell Strand had transferred over from Sussex Central. Strand burst through a hole over left guard and was confronted by a linebacker. Darnell left the area code and had the backer going Foghorn Leghorn, “I say, I say, boy, which way did he go?” Later, in 1999, during a playoff game versus Caesar Rodney, ball carrier Elijah Worth broke into the secondary and just froze for a millisecond – everyone on the field froze with him – then he went full speed and everyone else was still frozen. I had never seen anything like it. Cape freshman runner Jordan Baines has that quality. I saw him do it last year at Beacon and Sept. 10 at Sussex Tech. Jordan slows in empty space, like he’s waiting to cross Broad Street in Philly, and then he is gone. Coincidentally, he is related to Dan and Joe Klecko, former Temple players who went on to play for the Eagles and Jets, respectively.   

Lost Downs - It was 1986. The last game in the football season. I was defensive coordinator for Cape. Sussex Central was driving before the half. They were facing fourth down in the red zone, so we called timeout. I was on the field discussing fourth down likely scenarios and an official said to me, “Coach, it’s third down.” The down marker read three. “That hungover joker forgot to flip the number,” I said. Each ref had a rubber band wrapped around three fingers. “And you guys forgot to move your dopey little rubber bands.” “It was fourth down when I came out here, so how did that change?” Coach Rob Schroeder flashed four fingers. Central knew they were getting a free down and suggested the refs throw a flag on me. I lost the argument, but film later proved that I was right. At the Cape versus Sussex Tech JV game Sept. 10, there was another down marker mishap. Cape had the ball. There was a call for a measurement. The chain gang of students came onto the field. It was either going to be 1st and 10 or 3rd and 1. Except it ended up 4th and 1, and everyone, including the refs, swore it was true, except it wasn’t.   

Snippets - Weather wise, I don’t know what’s going on with sporting events I’m scheduled to attend. The good news is I make my own decisions when it comes to putting my life at risk. The downside of weather apps on everyone’s phone is, we still don’t know what’s going to happen, but we’re certain we do. Go on now, git!