WILMINGTON, DEL — None of this matters. Not this time of year. Not with a powerhouse like Imhotep Charter.
The Panthers rolled over Haverford School, 35-0, to keep their scoreless streak intact on Friday night in the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Pigskin Classic football showcase at Salesianum School’s Abessinio Stadium, in Wilmington, Delaware.
In two games, Imhotep (2-0) has outscored its opponents 122-0. That ‘0’ in the right column may be challenged next week against visiting Archbishop Spalding of Baltimore, but for now, no team in PIAA Class 5A comes close to the Panthers.
The test comes in maintaining that.
“We’re pushing ourselves with the attitude to keep dominating, keep dominating,” said Imhotep’s Penn State-bound defensive back Kenny Woseley, who also plays a very key role as the Panthers’ kicker. “We challenge ourselves in practice every day against what I believe is the best offense in the nation. We play every day against Georgia commit Jabree Wallace-Coleman, we play against Penn State commit Tyseer Denmark, we defend against Army commit quarterback Mikal Davis. What team in the state or the country has that?
“We’ve known how much power we have on offense. We clash heads every day knowing iron sharpens iron. We want to make a statement every time we play. We know there are things we need to tighten up. In a game like this, we’re going to look at the little things.”
Woseley’s kicking ability, which he says he can make a field goal from 35 yards out, could be a factor in December, where the Panthers are no doubt heading.
Other factors like the rise of sophomore defensive back Willie Norris also matter. He leads the Panthers with two interceptions this season. His third quarter pick led to Wallace-Coleman’s second touchdown of the night.
“I need to stay focused, knowing I have 10 other dogs in the box who depend on me,” said Norris, a first-year starter. “We can’t say too much right now. It’s September. We need to limit the mistakes. It doesn’t mean we can’t stop playing with a chip on our shoulders. It’s the whole team that has that attitude.”
This could be a special Imhotep team, one of the best in school history. Another measuring stick will come next week against Spaulding, which beat the Panthers last year.
“We try to take one game at a time, breaking the season down in three parts, finishing our nonleague season undefeated, then Malvern Prep,” Imhotep coach Devon Johnson said. “Our guys are ready to go for Spaulding. We’re not thinking about December. We’re on to Spaulding.”
Johnson would like his team to clean up the holding calls, and wipe out some personal foul calls.
Imhotep made it look easy.
Right now, the best Public League game in the city may be Imhotep’s offense against its defense.
Against Haverford School, the Panthers bolted out to a 21-0 lead by intermission. Davis found Sayeed Buie for a 48-yard touchdown pass near the end of the first quarter, and then the Panthers’ running game took control.
Syeer Coleman’s six-yard run gave Imhotep a 14-0 edge, and Wallace-Coleman’s 11-yard scoring run boosted that lead to 21-0 with 6:27 left in the half. Wallace-Coleman scored once more in the third, off the Norris pick, and Denmark concluded the scoring on an 11-yard end around that started the running clock with 4:57 to play.
Can any 5A team stop Imhotep?
It’s a refrain that’s been echoed before in September. This year, it may come to fruition in December.
Scoring Summary
Haverford School (0-1) 0 0 0 0-0
Imhotep Charter (2-0) 7 14 7 7-35
1st Quarter
IC – Sayeed Buie 48 pass from Mikal Davis (Kenneth Woseley kick), :31
2nd Quarter
IC – Syeer Coleman 6 run (Woseley kick), 9:09
IC – Jabree Wallace-Coleman 11 run (Woseley kick), 6:27
3rd Quarter
IC – Wallace-Coleman 1 run (Woseley kick), 4:26
4th Quarter
IC – Tyseer Denmark 11 run (Woseley kick), 4:57
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been covering high school football since 1992 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be followed on Twitter @JSantoliquito. Follow EasternPAFootball.com on Twitter @EPAFootball.
