Imhotep makes statement against Gratz

Tyliek Raynor said he and his Imhotep Charter teammates gained extra motivation from the "trash talking" the Simon Gratz players did in the weeks leading up to Friday night's highly anticipated season opener.

"They were talking a lot," Raynor said. "Things like, 'We're going to blow you out' and 'You can't beat us.' They even wrote our obituary and put it online. So we were really hyped to play them."

Raynor set the tone early, breaking free for a 58-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage and going 57 yards on his next attempt, and the visiting Panthers cruised past the Bulldogs, 36-6, at Marcus Foster Memorial Stadium.

Raynor, an Arizona recruit who was slowed in the preseason by a hamstring injury, carried 15 times for 169 yards. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound speedster gained 150 yards on eight tries before the break.

"I worked extra hard over the summer," said the 18-year-old from West Oak Lane. "I want to be the best running back in the city this year. I don't want to be average."

Imhotep took a 14-0 advantage in just over 5 minutes. Raynor's 57-yard dart was followed by a 4-yard TD run by backfield partner Mike Waters.

Last season, Raynor, who played youth football for the North Philly Blackhawks, helped Imhotep go 11-2 and advance to the PIAA District 12 Class AAA final before losing to eventual state champ Archbishop Wood.

"We have high goals this year," Raynor said. "We want to gradually get better and peak toward the end. The ultimate goal is a state title. We're determined to get there."

Against Gratz, the preseason favorite to claim the Public League Class AAAA crown, Imhotep netted 186 rushing yards on 24 attempts.

The Panthers' offensive line was made up of center Brashon McCrae, guards Johncarlo Valentin and Jahmir Johnson, tackles Justin Johnson and Yasir Durant, and Florida State-bound tight end Naseir "Pop" Upshur. "They deserve a lot of the credit," Raynor said.

In the second quarter, after Luke Wilson's 55-yard TD burst gave the Bulldogs some life, Aamir Brown's 98-yard kickoff return and Waters' conversion run put Albie Crosby's squad ahead, 22-6.

Raynor chose Arizona over runners-up Temple and West Virginia. Boston College, Buffalo, Old Dominion, Purdue, and Wake Forest were also in the mix.

"He's a flat-out difference maker," Crosby said. "And he's a quiet leader. The guys believe in him and follow him."

Imhotep Charter 14 8 0 14 - 36

Simon Gratz 0 6 0 0 - 6

IC: Tyliek Raynor 58 run (pass failed)

IC: Mike Waters 4 run (Waters pass from Nasir Boykin)

SG: Luke Wilson 55 run (run failed)

IC: Aamir Brown 98 kickoff return (Waters run)

IC: Waters 3 run (run failed)

IC: Chris Wells 6 run (Prince Smith pass from Boykin)