Some wins look impressive on a stat sheet. Others reveal something about the character of a football team.
St. Elizabeth’s season-opening victory at First State Military Academy fell into the second category.
The Vikings jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Bulldogs battled back to make it 14-12 at halftime. From there, the game became a test of depth, toughness and composure. Cramps and injuries began piling up, with players going down seemingly every series. But each time St. Elizabeth appeared to be running short on bodies, another Viking stepped in and made a play.
After an offseason that brought significant change and the departure of several key seniors, Thursday night wasn’t about style points. It was about finding a way to win — and St. Elizabeth did exactly that.
At the center of the effort was junior quarterback Chris Cersari, a longtime member of the St. Elizabeth program who has been around the Vikings since grade school. In his 11th year with the program, Cersari took over the quarterback position this offseason and immediately found himself in an important leadership role.
In Week 1, he delivered.
Cersari accounted for four touchdowns, throwing for three and adding another on the ground.
One of those passing touchdowns came on the opening drive when Isaiah Coleman hauled in a beautifully floated pass from Cersari at the goal line on fourth down to give the Vikings an early score.
Coleman continued to make his presence felt before halftime. He turned a screen pass into a 60-yard touchdown, powering through multiple defenders on his way to the end zone. The performance offered an early glimpse of why Coleman could emerge as one of Delaware’s more dangerous running backs this season — even if he remains relatively under the radar.
Mi’cah Hamilton added St. Elizabeth’s third touchdown through the air on a 25-yard reception.
Defensively, the Vikings came up with several critical plays when they needed them most. Mason McCarthy, Dom Carucci, Ethan Valentine and the other two Coleman triplets, Justin and Travis, helped provide pressure and sacks as St. Elizabeth worked to keep First State Military Academy from completing the comeback.
But the most significant takeaway from the game may have had little to do with any individual statistic.
Several players on this St. Elizabeth roster have been part of the program since their grade-school days. During an offseason filled with uncertainty and change, some had opportunities to take their talents elsewhere.
They stayed.
And when Friday night became difficult, the Vikings responded by leaning on one another.
That kind of identity has long been associated with St. Elizabeth and the Wilmington community it represents.
There is a blue-collar quality to both. Wilmington has often been overlooked, occasionally knocked down, but rarely willing to stay there. The comparison to Philadelphia — Wilmington’s bigger neighbor to the north — is fitting in that regard. If Philadelphia is the city that Rocky built, St. Elizabeth’s football program appears to carry a similar underdog mentality.
The Beacon on the Hill has been part of Wilmington’s landscape and community for more than a century. On Friday night, St Elizabeth displayed a lot of that same spirit.
One opening-night victory doesn’t define a season. But it can provide an early indication of what a team might become.
The 2026 Vikings were tested. They were tired. They dealt with injuries and watched a 14-point lead shrink to two.
They kept coming.
For a program replacing important seniors and establishing a new identity, that may have been the most encouraging part of the night.
St. Elizabeth has plenty to prove this fall, but Week 1 provided a clear warning to anyone tempted to overlook the Vikings:
They’re still here.
And if Friday night was any indication, there’s plenty of fight left in them.
📸 courtesy of Leo Loeb
