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Powder Springs, GA – In the second game of a tripleheader, the top sophomores athletes took the field for the Football Hotbed National High School Sophomore Showcase at McEachern High School.
Temperatures increased ever so slightly from the freshman showcase game – 35 degrees at kickoff – but the sophomore contest played out in similar fashion to the freshman game.
In the end Team White earned a thrilling 20-13 win over Team Black.
Coaches raved about soft spoken wide receiver Avari Marshall (Miami Goleman High School) during showcase practices for his ability to make big plays.
In Monday’s showcase he showed the rest of the country why he deserved the hype when he scored the game-winning touchdown in Monday’s showcase.
With the game tied late at 13-13, Marshall caught a pass short from Miami (FL) Columbus QB Fernando Mendoza before breaking a tackle and sprinting down the sideline for a 73-yard touchdown reception with just over three minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Hilton Head Prep (SC) kicker Trevor Weldon’s extra point gave Team White a 20-13 lead.
“It meant a lot for me to make that play to help us come out with the W,” Marshall said. “Without that play its probably a different game.”
The game started out in Team Black’s favor. With Kell (GA) High school QB Robbie Roper under center, the black team completed a long scoring drive in the first quarter. Roper capped the drive with a screen pass to Panama City (FL) Mosley’s Josiah McCall who sprinted up the right sideline through traffic for a 17-yard touchdown to give the Team Black a 6-0 lead after the missed extra point.
The white team finally got on the board with 5:30 remaining before the half. On third and 12, Mendoza rolled out of the pocket and let a deep pass fly to Alpharetta (GA) High receiver Trent Martin for a 50-yard score. Weldon’s extra point gave Team White a 7-6 lead.
On their last possession before the half, the white team managed to boost their lead. Mendoza completed back-to-back passes to Martin to put his team in field goal range. Weldon took advantage, drilling a 34-yard field goal to give his team a 10-6 lead as time expired in the second quarter.
After scoreless third quarter Team White boosted their lead early in the fourth. Mendoza completed a 24-yard pass to Liberty (SC) High School receiver Alex Riddle for first and goal at the one. However, Team White missed multiple chances to score and had to settle for a Weldon 24-yard field goal to boost their lead to 13-6 with 9:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.
A dormant Team black offense finally showed signs of life late in the fourth quarter, when Coconut Creek (FL) High School running back Michael Barnes scored up the middle from two yards out on third and goal. Matt Ahmed’s extra point tied the game at 13-13 with 4:25 left in the game.
For Team White, their entire defense seemed to make big plays. They were led in the secondary by Simeon Askew of Houston County (GA) High school who had several pass deflections and seemed to be all over the field.
Miami (FL) Central LB Wesley Bassinthe made tackle after tackle and was named the game’s defensive MVP. His performance was icing on the cake after he earned a scholarship offer from South Carolina during Football Hotbed’s visit to their Columbia, SC campus over the weekend
“It was a great experience to play with some different players from across the world,” Bassinthe said. “It was a fun experience to travel to colleges. It was great.”
Fellow linebacker Gerald Hernandez of Hollywood (FL) McArthur proved to be another playmaker on the white team defense. Hernandez showed the range and toughness needed to stop the run and play in coverage.
For Team Black cornerback Jude Servius of Miami LaSalle finished with five tackles, three pass deflections and a forced fumble.
Milton (GA) High School receiver Brooks Bortle was named offensive MVP for the sophomore showcase after finishing with three catches for 104 yards.
“I was very blessed to be put in this situation,” Bortle said. Coach EB offered me to come play in this game a couple months back and I just took the opportunity, did the most I could today and just performed.”
Other notable sophomore performers
Running back/Linebacker Larry Blevins, Powder Springs (GA) Marietta
Defensive back Hafeez Bentley-Sabir, Fort Lauderdale (FL) High School
OL Jaquan Samuel, Tallahassee (FL) Godby
OL Chauncey Kamakea Jr., Tallahasee (FL) Godby
OL Daughtry Richardson, Tallahasee (FL) Godby
