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Imhotep humbled by fellow Pa. power Harrisburg

Penalty and turnover-plagued Imhotep Charter lost to host Harrisburg, 33-14, Saturday afternoon at Severance Field.

Isheem Young and Imhotep Charter fell to host Harrisburg, 33-14, in Saturday afternoon’s season opener at Severance Stadium.
Isheem Young and Imhotep Charter fell to host Harrisburg, 33-14, in Saturday afternoon’s season opener at Severance Stadium.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / File Photograph

Harrisburg, Pa. — It wasn't anywhere near the way Nick Lincoln envisioned his debut as Imhotep Charter's head football coach would play out.

While Harrisburg is a talent-filled squad with several Division I recruits in tow, Lincoln's group imploded by committing a rash of penalties, coughing the ball up five times, and getting burned for four touchdown passes.

Harrisburg, last season's PIAA Class 5A state finalist, clobbered the mistake-prone Panthers, 33-14, in the season opener for both squads Saturday afternoon at Severance Field.

"We have 24 hours to feel this and then we need to let it go," said Lincoln, who coached at Penn Wood the last three seasons and is a former Imhotep assistant.

In addition to blue-chip senior recruit Micah Parsons, who lined up at five positions against the Panthers, the speedy Cougars have dangerous playmakers in quarterback Yahmir Wilkerson and wideouts Shaquon Anderson-Butts and Donnell Henriquez.

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Parsons, a bone-crushing tackler at defensive end and outside linebacker, is considering Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Penn State, Nebraska, and Ohio State.

"It feels real good to get this win, shows that we have a lot of potential to do big things this season," Parsons said.

Wilkerson connected on 10 of 18 passes for 231 yards and a pair of scores as Harrisburg, which bowed to Archbishop Wood by 37-10 in Hershey last December, built a 20-0 halftime advantage.

Wilkerson and Henriquez hooked up for a 79-yard TD in the first quarter and a 14-yarder in the second. Parsons rumbled through the middle for a 22-yard tally just before the break.

The Cougars made it 26-0 when Anderson-Butts, who has committed to Penn State, raced along the left sideline and hauled in a 36-yard toss from Wilkerson. Overall, the senior lefthander hit on 16 of 29 throws for 316 yards.

"I have to tip my hat to the quarterback," said Lincoln, whose team was penalized 13 times for 112 yards. "He played extremely well."

Imhotep, last year's Class 4A state runner-up, managed two late scores. Jalen Sutton-Christian delivered a 64-yard pass to wideout Yusuf Terry and halfback Carl Jones (17 carries for 110 yards) found pay dirt on a 29-yard burst.

Harrisburg, which was penalized 16 times for 111 yards, held the Panthers to 153 total yards of offense through three quarters.

Lincoln hopes the lopsided setback to Harrisburg, which rushed 27 times for 104 yards, will pay future dividends.

"I'd play this game again in a heartbeat," he said. "We got a chance to experience some adversity. Hopefully, the guys respond to it and begin moving in the right direction."

Imhotep Charter 0 0 0 14-14

Harrisburg 7 13 6 7-33

H: Donnell Henriquez 79 pass from Yahmir Wilkerson (Shaquon Anderson-Butts kick)

H: Henriquez 14 pass from Wilkerson (Anderson-Butts kick)

H: Micah Parsons 22 run (run failed)

H: Anderson-Butts 36 pass from Wilkerson (pass failed)

H: Zeke Sawyers 5 pass from Wilkerson (Anderson-Butts kick)

IC: Yusuf Terry 64 pass from Jalen Sutton-Christian (run failed)

IC: Carl Jones 29 run (Jones pass from Sutton-Christian)