I was housebound yesterday due to the heat (near 100 degrees in Orlando). That gave me the opportunity to watch several high school football games and parts (during football game commercials) of the Under Armour Elite 24 basketball game in Brooklyn, NY.
The only game I watched in its entirety was the (Miami) Booker T. Washington and (Chesapeake, VA) Oscar Smith game. These two teams featured ESPN's # 1 over-all player DE Josh Sweat (Rivals #5 player) and two very good running backs: 2016 #2 (Rivals) Mark Walton (Miami Commit) and Oscar Smith #54 RB (Rivals) Deshawn McClease (Virginia Tech Commit). 4* #5 TE Devonaire Clarington and 4* #16 Safety DaVante Davis also played for Booker T. Washington. Here are the rosters for Oscar Smith and Booker T. Washington.
The game started off with an Oscar Smith touchdown drive that featured the athletic skills of McClease and the huge offensive line who did a great job of blocking for him. McClease was the only skill player to touch the ball. He ran through and over the Washington defense and scored on a pass play. He's better than advertised. On Miami's first possession, Walton raced 67 yards for a touchdown on his first carry.
From that point on Booker T. Washington shut down Oscar Smith for most of three quarters until Oscar Smith went back to their zone read run game. McClease brought the Tigers within 20 at the end of the 3rd period with Booker T. Washington ending the quarter with a 41-21 lead. #11 Washington took charge of the 4th quarter and waltzed away with a 57-21 win over unranked Oscar Smith and extended their win streak to 27 in the process. Norfolk's Channel 13 provides a brief description of the game.
What I found interesting was Sweat and Clarington. While Sweat may be the #1 DE, he played far better as a WR and RB while TE Clarington played much better as a DE. I think McLease is underrated. Walton is not overrated. He's petitioning the NCAA to become a member of the 2015 class and wants to enroll at Miami in December. Davis is a player and is expected to commit to Miami as is Clarington who has a UK offer.
Other games that I peeked at was Albany, Georgia's Westover take apart some poor team whose name I can't remember. What was unique was that it started at 9:30 AM and by the end of the first quarter, the temperature on the field was right around 115 degrees.
Miami Central took a visit to Hoover, Alabama and played Hoover who entered the game with a 30 game win streak. Central left town with a 24-21 win, ending Hoover's streak. The game was a "turnoverfest". Racism reared its ugly head on Friday before Central flew to Hoover (Link).
Buford, GA beat Jacksonville's Trinity Christian last night.
USA Top 25 results from this weekend:
1. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) beat Brophy Prep (Phoenix) 44-0
2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) beat St. Louis (Honolulu) 63-14
3. St, Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale)
4. Allen (Allen, TX)
5. Centerville (Clifton, VA)
6. Cedar Hill (TX)
7. Hoover (AL) lost to Miami Central 21-24
8. Miami Central beat Hoover (AL) 24-21
9. Mallard Creek (Charlotte) beat Charlotte Christian 28-21 on Thursday
10. St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City)
11. Booker T. Washington (Miami) beat Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA) 57-21
12. St. Edward (Lakewood, OH)
13. Jenks (OK)
14. Warren Easton Fundamental (New Orleans)
15. McEachern (Powder Springs, GA) Lost to North Gwinnett (Suwanee, GA) 52-49 Link
16. Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, LA)
17. Katy (TX)
18. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
19. Servite (Anaheim, CA)
20. Apopka (FL) beat Lyman (Longwood, FL) 43-7
21. Mountain Pointe (Phoenix, AZ) beat Reed (Sparks, NV) 66-13
22. Ben Davis (Indianapolis) beat Indianapolis Cathedral 44-19
23. Bingham (South Jordan, UT) beat Davis (Kaysville, UT) 33-14
24. Buford (GA) beat Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 17-0
25. Gonzaga (Washington, DC)
In Kentucky, here's the results through Saturday. Some games yet to be played had to be played on Sunday