Pop Tart hot for University City in OT marathon win over Overbrook

Even the best franchise football players need assistance from friends.

Tyriuq "Pop Tart" Gordon received it yesterday, and that helped him get the better of some old, and even current, buddies.

Gordon, a 5-10, 175-pound senior, is in his second season of impressive multitasking for University City High. His first school was Overbrook, so you can imagine how much he enjoyed succeeding vs. 'Brook in a nonleague classic at Germantown's Ben Johnston Memorial Stadium.

This one lasted one, two, three, four overtimes, as well as 2 hours, 56 minutes, before the Jaguars finally prevailed, 40-34.

"I'm very exhausted," Gordon said. "My intensity is gone."

In OT, which began at 12-12, Gordon served UC as one of three, bold-relief heroes.

In the first extra session, he powered 2 yards for a fourth-down score, thus creating an 18-18 tie. Second: His conversion run made it 26-26. Third: Another conversion run made it 34-34.

So, yes, that means Gordon thrice dug deep for plays that had to be made to prolong the game.

On second down in the fourth OT, he flashed up from his linebacker spot and pounded a ballcarrier to the turf. After lifting him maybe a foot off the ground. Properly inspired, UC held.

The Jaguars' possession included runs of 3 and 0 yards for Gordon, and then a 7-yard, left-corner fade from Michael Adens to junior basketball player Martez Lyles. It was that combo's third consecutive TD. To pretty much the same exact spot on the field; each of the first two had covered 10 yards.

Afterward, Lyles spoke in matter-of-fact tones while discussing his heroics. Then he began talking about Gordon and there was excitement in his voice.

"He's the man. The heart of the team," Lyles said. "He motivates everybody and he wants it more than anybody. We knew how 'Pop' was going against his old school. We wanted to get it for him."

Gordon returned the dole-out-praise favor.

"This was Martez' coming-out party," he said. "He told us he was going to make those plays. They couldn't cover him."

Gordon finished with 251 all-purpose yards. He opened the scoring with a beautiful punt return of 78 yards, uncorked an interception return of 30 yards, caught one pass for 15 (Adens was just 1-for-10 through regulation) and rushed 21 times for 128 and TDs of 36 and 2 yards.

His career has produced 2,982 yards of rushing (2,365) and receiving (617) along with 24 and four TDs in those categories, respectively. This was his first return six-pointer.

After catching the ball in the middle, Gordon eased to his right, cut back to his left and raced down that sideline.

"I like returning a lot," he said. "Once I made that cut, I knew I was gone."

Gordon, who lives near 60th and Market, said he left Overbrook after experiencing occasional behavior problems.

"My mom said I had to get out of there," he said. "I wasn't sure where I was going to go. Michael Adens is my cousin. He told me, 'Might as well come down here with us.'"

Now, Pitt is requesting a transcript and highlight tape and Division II schools are showing persistent interest.

Overbrook was not without special performances. Kirk Wright ran 24 times for 117 yards while David McCants added 54 yards on 10 totes and thrice hit payturf; twice in OT.

The starting QB, Ehramis Chism, who did an opposite Pop Tart (began his career at UC), hit Matthew Ayres for a 15-yard score. He later left with an injury and it was Rodney Hall, usually the star receiver, who hit Erik Staley with an 18-yard conversion pass in the the third OT after Keenan Clark dashed for a 9-yard TD and drew a dead-ball call for unsportsmanlike conduct after spiking the ball.

"We had the 12-0 lead, but we let them take all the momentum," Gordon said. "When we make mistakes, it's my job to keep everybody's head up. There's always a next play."

Yesterday = Exhibit A.