Freshman start slow, shine late in National Showcase overtime thriller

Powder Springs, GA — Several of the nation’s top football players in the Class of 2023 convened Georgia for the Football Hotbed National High School Freshman Showcase game at McEachern High School.

Monday’s game was the first of a tripleheader and culminated a weekend where a number of the top freshman, sophomore and junior football players in the country took the opportunity to visit several major college campuses and compete against their peers during three days of practice at Walter H. Cantrell Stadium.

Despite playing in less than favorable conditions in the metro Atlanta area – 29 degrees and windy at kickoff – the freshman athletes took the field for the first game of the day and proved why they’re considered some of the best ninth graders in the country.

In this year’s freshman showcase, the defenses stole the show in a low scoring clash. In the end, Team White rallied from an eight-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to pull off a thrilling 21-20 win in overtime over Team Black.

 With the score knotted at 14-14 in overtime, Team White got the ball first at black 15 and leaned on its running game. Alpharetta (GA) Denmark’s Dee Crayton capped the drive when he took the handoff and powered up the middle to give Team White the 20-14 lead to start overtime. Plantation (FL) American Heritage Kicker Samir Attasi’s extra point gave the white squad a 21-14 advantage.

Team Black got the chance to match Team White’s effort on the following possession, but Team White’s defense held steady and forced the offense into fourth and 12 on the 17.

With one last chance to make a play, Plainfield (IL) Montini Catholic QB Robert “Tre” Jones took the snap, scrambled to his right and heaved a high pass to the goal line to Ellenwood (GA) Cedar Grove WR Bernard Mack who skied to make a near impossible acrobatic catch in between two defenders before falling into the endzone for a thrilling touchdown.

Before the play call, Mack gave his coaches confidence he come up with a big play.

“We needed that play and I told the coach ‘I got you’ and I made it happen,” Mack said.

Still down 21-20, Team Black opted to go for the two-point conversion and the win instead of the extra point. However, the next big play would come from the defense. Team White defensive lineman Caleb Walton, playing on school’s home field Powder Springs (GA) McEachern exploded through the gap and dragged Jones to the turf before he could find an open receiver. The play sealing an exhilarating win for Team White to open Monday’s showcase.

Crayton finished with 12 carries for 45 yards running with great vision and a devastating stiff arm.

“It was good experience and I want to thank my dad for paying for it because I knew it was going to be a good experience,” Crayton said.

The defenses largely controlled the game until the fourth quarter.

Trailing 14-6 with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Team White quarterback Sedrick Hill Jr. called his own number and followed his blockers to score on a one yard run to narrow the score to 14-12. Forced to go for two, Team White’s Crayton took a handoff from the shotgun and muscled his way into the endzone to tie the game at 14-14 with 2:50 to go in the fourth.

On the ensuing kickoff, Team White tried an onside kick but it was recovered by Team Black and returned to the white 30. In scoring range, the black team looked to assemble a game-winning drive, but the white team defense, specifically its defensive line, had other ideas.

Defensive end Rueben Bain Miami (FL) Central High was a nightmare for the opposing team’s offensive lineman the entire game. On this drive along he recorded two tackles for loss on consecutive plays to force third and long back in Team Black territory. After an incomplete pass on third and long, Team Black was forced to punt and Crayton returned it 15 yards to the black 26.

After two negative plays to force third and 28, as the clock trickled down to zero, Team White tossed a last second heave near the endzone but it was intercepted by Cedar Grove (GA) High School DB Kaylin Lee as time expired in regulation.

Big defensive plays defined the freshman showcase.

Bain and fellow defensive end Greg Otten Fort Lauderdale (FL) Cardinal Gibbons heard their names called all day because they always seemed to meet be in the backfield. Bain finished with seven tackles (five for loss). Still just a ninth grader, his size and athleticism is already a matchup problem for most offensive lineman.

At the other end spot, Otten finished with seven tackles (one for loss) and two sacks. He’ll likely help anchor a defense for the defending state champion Chiefs in Florida next season.

Seneca (SC) High lineman Camron “Cam” Johnson finished with three tackles (two for loss) and a pass deflection even as he split time playing both at defensive tackle and on the offensive line.

“I love competition, you just keep working have fun, and not really worry about being scared,” Johnson said. “It was definitely tough, it was some good boys out there, but I love playing against top of the line players.”

At the start of the game Team White’s offense came out of gates full speed ahead. On third and long in Team Black territory, QB Colbey Lamberth, Nashville Christian (TN) rolled out to his left and fired a high, arching deep pass to a wide open WR Jesse Anderson of Fort Lauderdale (FL) Cardinal Gibbons for a 40-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. A missed extra point kept the score at 6-0 Team White.

Despite Team Black’s slow start on offense, their defense came up with big plays to pick up the slack. With Team White pinned deep in their own territory DB William “Bo” Mascoe, Thomasville (GA) High School kept his eyes on the quarterback and intercepted an errant pass to return it 20 yards for a touchdown. St. Patrick Catholic (MS) kicker Ty Miller’s extra point conversion gave the black team a 7-6 lead midway through the first quarter.

After giving up a touchdown on the opening drive, Team Black’s defense took it personal the rest of the game. Mountain View (GA) defensive lineman Ken’Dell Brown was Team White’s backfield on virtually every play, finishing with four tackles (three for loss).

One of the best plays of the day came on special teams.

With his offense stagnant, RB Quinterio Lawson, Sandy Springs (GA) Riverwood decided he needed to make a play. Back as a punt returner Lawson scooped a punt off the bounce at the 40, eluded the first wave of would be tacklers, shed a few more in the heart of the field with an electric spin move, then outran the rest for 60-yard touchdown return. Miller’s extra point made it 14-6. Lawson spoke about the return after the game.

“The first punt return coach told me to hold it, but I had it my head that I was already gonna score,” Lawson said. “The second time I got a chance I had to get in the box.”

Team White got some momentum going on the opening drive of the third quarter, but the drive was stymied by another big play from Lawson. Playing linebacker for Team Black, Lawson met the running back in the gap and ripped the ball right out of his hands to give his offense the ball back.

Lawson finished with just four carries for 16 yards, but still managed to make his presence felt in each facet of the game.

Jones finished 4-for-8 with 67 yards passing one touchdown and one interception for Team Black.

For Team Black’s defense, Ken’Dell Brown finished with four tackles (three tackles for loss). Southwest Dekalb (GA) High defensive tackle Austen Guin finished with three tackles and a sack. DB Vinkevus Pierre West Palm Beach (FL) Cardinal Newman had three tackles a forced fumble and a pass deflection. LB Jalyn Turner, Clearwater (FL) Calvary Christian had three tackles and a pass deflection.

For Team White, Jesse Anderson finished with three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. Lamberth finished 8-for-12 with 88 yards a touchdown and an interception.