By Stephen D. Riley
AFRO Contributing Writer
(Courtesy Photo/highschoolsports.net)
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(October 3, 2009) - In their final tune-up before a big match-up next weekend, the DeMatha Catholic High School Stags showed they’re firing on all cylinders.
The Stags improved to 5-0 with a 48-17 rout of the Gonzaga College High School Eagles at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, Md. on Oct. 2.
DeMatha entered the game as Maryland’s top-ranked team and the stage is now set for Oct. 9, when DeMatha faces the state’s second-best team, the Lady of Good Counsel Falcons.
Led by senior running back Marcus Coker’s 170 yards and three touchdowns, DeMatha ran over, around and through the Eagles. Coker has committed to play college football at Iowa and has averaged more than 200 yards per game for the Stags this season, including a 391-yard, five touchdown effort against Baltimore’s Gillman High School in September.
Despite Coker’s performance, it was a defensive player that caught the eye of former Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington, who attended the game.
“I support the community,” Arrington said. “Anytime I can come … and hang out and watch guys play, I do this when I can. So I like to come out and support. I know a few guys on DeMatha.”
Asked if any particular player caught his eye, Arrington said, “Number 2, just remember number 2.”
“Number 2” is DeMatha senior cornerback Jeff Knox Jr.—like Arrington, a Pittsburgh native—who caught everyone’s eye with a touchdown-saving interception shortly before halftime to preserve the Stags’ lead at 21-3. Knox has committed to the University of Pittsburgh and was all over the field Friday, providing shutdown coverage.
Top-shelf recruits like Knox and Coker are nothing new for DeMatha: according to a recent USA Today article, DeMatha has seven former players currently on NFL rosters, more than any other U.S. high school. Among them are star Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook and his brother, Byron Westbrook, a cornerback for the Washington Redskins.
With a premier match-up looming, Knox and Coker will have to bring their best games for DeMatha to be prevail—but one of them may be battling an injury.
Coker sat out the entire fourth quarter, racking up more offense in three quarters than other players might in two games. Knox also sat out the fourth, but for precautionary reasons after he left the game early in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury. Knox walked off the field under his own power and his status for next week is unclear.
Gonzaga dropped to 2-3 on the season and will take on O’Connell High School on Oct. 10.