 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Since he missed a good chunk of last season with an injured right ankle, George Washington's Omar Hunter has been trying to make up for lost time.
So far, so good. Through five games, the quick-footed Hunter has averaged about 75 yards rushing per game and scored eight touchdowns.
On Saturday night, in a Public League Red Division contest against Northeast, Hunter scored a pair of touchdowns as the Eagles stymied a late rally by the host Vikings and triumphed, 28-20, at Charlie Martin Memorial Stadium.
In the last minute of the third quarter, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Hunter burst through the middle of Northeast's line and raced to the end zone for a 62-yard score that put Washington comfortably ahead, 28-0.
"Our line did an excellent job of blocking for me on that play," Hunter said. "I just hit the hole hard, found daylight and took off. I was confident I wasn't going to be caught from behind."
Hunter, a senior captain who lives near Cottman and Torresdale Avenues in the Mayfair section of Northeast Philly, said he has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
"He works really hard in practice," said Washington's James Fowler, a junior tight end and inside linebacker. "And he's good at getting us hyped up in the huddle."
Hunter doubles as a cornerback. Against Northeast, he sometimes drew the assignment of covering Je'Ron Stokes. The 6-1, 190-pound Stokes, a speedster bound for Tennessee, is a big-time playmaker at wide receiver.
"To me, he's a regular dude," Hunter said. "He's just like me. I look at him as just another player I have to defend and stop from scoring."
The Vikings scored three quick touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make it 28-20 with 5 minutes, 23 seconds to play. On their first score, Stokes leaped high in the right corner for a 26-yard TD.
Northeast threatened again in the final minute. On the game's last play, from the Washington 29, a fade pass to the left corner, intended for Raheem Groce, fell incomplete. Eagles defensive back Lorenzo Adams was there to break up the play.
"Northeast did a great job of coming back," said Hunter, also a kick returner. "I respect what they did. I thought they were going to fold."
Next for the Eagles (4-1 overall, 2-0 league) is Friday's 6 p.m. showdown vs. Red Division rival Frankford (4-1, 3-0).
High-scoring QB. Shannon Givens, a senior at Academy of the New Church in Bryn Athyn, is headed to Drexel to play basketball. There, he will join his brother, Samme, a former standout for ANC.
Givens is also quite the football player, as he showed in Saturday's 44-22 romp over host Jenkintown. The 5-11, 210-pounder accounted for 32 of his team's 44 points in the Independence League victory.
Givens threw for three touchdowns, scored on a 1-yard QB sneak, tossed three two-point conversion passes, and ran for a two-point conversion. Yup, 32 points.
"I've loved playing football ever since I was a little kid," said Givens, a point guard in basketball. "I used to play for the Olney Eagles youth football organization."
Givens fired a pair of TD passes, covering 13 and 61 yards, to athletic junior wideout Warren Gillis. "He's real good," Givens said. "He's fast, and he jumps high. No one has been able to stop him yet."
Givens, who also plays cornerback, rushed nine times for 97 yards. Early in the third quarter, he escaped around right end for a 60-yard gain to the Jenkintown 11.
ANC's offensive line, which paved the way for 391 total yards, included center Curt Olson, guards Alec Horan and Jarrid Andrew-Bryant, tackles Mike Midyett and Ekene Nwokoye, and tight end Ryan Asplundh.
TV alert. CN8 will televise Saturday afternoon's Suburban One League National Conference matchup between Council Rock South (4-2, 1-2) and host Neshaminy (5-1, 3-0). Kickoff is set for 1:30.
Quotable. Academy of the New Church coach Andy Davis, on the play of Perkiomen School quarterback Abdul Smith, a Rutgers recruit, in the Indians' 34-28 nonleague win over the Lions on Sept. 26: "He's an extraordinary athlete. He's so fast. You blink and he's gone."
|
|
|
|
|
|
REGIONAL SCOREBOARD
Latest Sports Blogs
TOP STORIES
Green
today's poll
express headlines
email this
print this
reprint or license this
