The defense was a huge part of Imhotep’s 19-14 win over Bishop McDevitt at Chambersburg’s Peach Bowl, but the 82-yard touchdown blast by sophomore and Georgia commit Jabree Wallace-Coleman set the tone.
With Division I athletes scattered across both rosters, Wallace-Coleman’s huge run shined through. He went almost the entire distance and threw a McDevitt defender out of his way en route to the score.
“I’ve been thinking about that play all week,” Wallace-Coleman said. “Because earlier this week 24/7 came out with rankings for my class and they said there were 100 people better than me. I was just trying to show them that they were not.”
Wallace-Coleman’s lengthy score made it 13-0 with 6:53 left in the second quarter after quarterback Mikal Davis hit Johann Hennigan for an 11-yard score with 4:12 left in the first.
The Georgia commits’ touchdown broke the game open. McDevitt didn’t go out easily.
Highly regarded prospect Stone Saunders hit Tyshawn Russell for a 34-yard touchdown with 6:44 left in the third to make it 13-7 and that score held to the end of the quarter.
Rahmir Stewart pounded it in for a score with 8:53 left in the fourth to make it 19-7 for the Panthers. It looked like it was over.
Then, Jaire Rawlison returned a Wallace-Coleman fumble 39 yards for a touchdown and it was 19-14 with 3:20 left. That’s when Imhotep grinded it out and ran out the clock, including a big first down run from Coleman.
“I was going through it for a little bit but my teammates they like my family,” Wallace-Coleman said. ”They help me. They pick me up and told me to go get my money back. That’s what I did.”
The game had extra meaning for the Panthers, of which many members were talking about how the Crusaders were talking about putting up 40 points leading up to the game. Wallace-Coleman had a Bishop McDevitt championship photo in his Twitter header leading up to the game.
“That was disrespectful,” Wallace-Coleman said of the pregame banter.
The Panthers controlled throughout and were only threatened after the fumble return for a TD. They then closed the game out with the rushing game and defense. The D-I talent on the defensive side of the ball helped.
“I’m just trying to win states,” Wallace-Coleman said. “[I want to] get my jukes better, and get a little faster.”
Overall, the game was a beautiful showcase between two teams, and players, destined for success at the district, state, and professional levels.
It was the first week of football, or Week 0 as some like to call it, but the talent was evident on both sides. Check back in for Week 11.
Imhotep heads to Archbishop Spalding and McDevitt to West Toronto Prep next weekend.
Scoring Summary
Imhotep Charter (1-0) 7 6 0 6 – 19
Bishop McDevitt (0-1) 0 0 7 7 – 14
1st Quarter
I-Hennigan 11 pass from Davis (Woseley kick) – 4:12
2nd Quarter
I-Wallace-Coleman 82 run (Woseley kick blocked) – 6:53
3rd Quarter
BM-Russell pass from Saunders (Roman kick) – 6:44
4th Quarter
I-Stewart 7 run (2-point failed) – 8:53
BM-Rawlison 39 fumble return (Roman kick) – 3:20
