Budding star helps Imhotep thrash St. Frances

Isheem Young has grown accustomed to winning football games.

The 5-foot-11, 184-pound sophomore for Imhotep Charter starred last year for the Northwest Raiders in the Pop Warner National Super Bowl Championship in the Midget division.

With four touchdowns and 158 yards rushing, Young led the Raiders to their first national title.

Not quite a year later, he might not have shined the brightest on a drizzly Saturday afternoon at the Ben Johnston Supersite, but Young's winning ways made him a star among stars.

Thanks to his big plays, the sluggish Panthers, who lost running back Tyliek Raynor (Arizona) to an early shoulder injury, eventually pulled away from St. Frances (Md.), 40-16.

"Yeah, at first we were struggling a little bit," said Young, who lives near 16th and Spring Garden Streets. "The linebackers and defensive backs, we struggled a little bit. But we came out after the half and put up more points."

Perhaps modesty prevented him from gushing about his momentum-stealing first-quarter hit.

St. Frances had just forced a punt with the Panthers ahead, 8-0, when Young, a safety, fired down the sideline, pummeled the ballcarrier, and forced a fumble on a third and 6.

Prince Smith Jr. recovered the ball for Imhotep, whose sideline erupted after Young jarred the running back, Davon Williams.

"I was reading it, and Mike Waters hit him, but he broke the tackle," Young said. "Then I was like, 'Yhat's my hit.' So I started speeding and then I dove at him, and that's when the ball came loose."

Williams' helmet also came loose and landed a few yards away. Williams returned to the game later after lying on the ground, clutching his head.

On the next play, Mike Waters scored from 23 yards out and Imhotep (2-0) was on its way to victory.

After a few sloppy possessions by both sides, Young put the Panthers in control with a 76-yard touchdown run of his own. He had six carries for 124 yards.

Senior running back Mike Waters added 102 yards and three touchdowns on 15 rushes.

From Pop Warner to varsity football in less than a year? Young doesn't appear fazed at all.

His ability on offense and defense even conjured images of former Panther and current Arizona State player Deandre Scott.

"Just a sophomore, but I always told people that, just like Deandre, he's a game-changer," head coach Albie Crosby said. "He can make a play on either side of the football. Last year, he was a phenomenal player at the Pop Warner level. He was Mr. Pop Warner. And the transition for him from little league to high school was easy. He's special. He's special."

cartera@phillynews.com

@AceCarterINQ

St. Frances 0 8 8 0 - 16

Imhotep Charter 14 8 12 6 - 40

IC: Mike Waters 17 run (Waters run)

IC: Waters 23 run (pass failed)

IC: Isheem Young 76 run (Nasir Lewis from Nasir Boykins)

SF: John Gant from Jared Lewis (Gant run)

SF: Jaren Hillian 9 run (Myles Wright from Lewis)

IC: Waters 3 run (pass failed)

IC: Amir Brown 26 pass from Boykins (pass failed)

IC: Lewis 15 pass from Boykins (pass failed)