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Smyrna, GA — Football on Martin Luther King Day has become a tradition thanks to Football Hotbed. The National Showcase 2023 Class Game culminated an eventful weekend that had all participants visit the University of Alabama and the 2021 national champions, the Georgia Bulldogs. Talented high school athletes from across the country gathered to put their talent on display at Campbell High School just outside of Atlanta.
Team Purple won its third game of the day with a 21-16 victory over Team Blue. Chartavis “CJ” Strickland (Johnson County, Wrightville, GA) scored on an interception return in the first quarter to help the Purple squad take a 14-0 lead. Strickland bulldozed his way over a defender en route to a 65-yard pick-six.
CJ Strickland @1Cstrick takes this interception 65 yards running through would be tacklers for the touchdown.
The 2023 talent took home the MVP honor at the @FootballHotbed National Showcase. pic.twitter.com/m2B9nJtSLZ
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) January 26, 2022
Strickland snatched two interceptions in the game and also registered a tackle for loss and took home co-mvp honors.
Team Purple would add another defensive score to extend the lead. Briyar Powers (Pebblebrook, Mableton, GA) caught an overthrown ball the distance for a 32-yard pick-six. His team would carry a 21-0 lead into halftime. The Blue Team totaled negative two yards of offense after two quarters.
Team Blue would make it a game in the second half. Amarion Yarbough (Dutchtown, Hampton, GA) (featured image) scored from six yards out to put his team on the board. The 23’ running back had arguably the best day of all the athletes of all three games. Yarbough registered a sack and an interception to go along with his touchdown run.
JUNIOR SHOWCASE MVPs: 2023 RB Amarion Yarborough of @DutchtownFB1 and 2023 DB CJ Strickland of Johnson County High in Wrightsville, GA. #hotbedworld pic.twitter.com/PmVEzINDDG
— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) January 18, 2022
It Was Over When…
Attempting to convert on a 4th and 12 with 36 seconds to go, the Blue Team’s Shahi Brown (Eagles Landing, Jonesboro) tried to connect with Hilton Alexander (Douglas County, GA), but the football went through the receiver’s hands incomplete.
The Blue Team made it close as the Purple Team gave two points away with the snap sailing over the head of all-time kicking specialists Ty Miller, (IMG Academy, Biloxi, MS) through the back of the end zone. Miller kicked for both teams and was perfect on extra-point attempts.
Big Time Players
John Floyd Jr., (Pebblebrook, Mableton, GA) – The rising senior started the scoring for Team Purple with a strong 18-yard run. He also registered a sack and an interception.
Had fun showcasing my talent @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/TxNNAFctGz
— John Floyd jr ✞ (@32vibes_) January 18, 2022
Grant Fielder, (Campbell, Smyrna, GA) – The 2023 talent tallied a sack and a tackle for loss.
Kavon Coleman, (Temple, GA) – Had a tackle for loss defense and a pancake on offense.
Javeon Miller, (Creekside, Union City, GA) – Had a sack and a half and put pressure on the quarterback.
Gerrell Gaillard, (Douglas County, GA) – Notched a tackle for loss and a half-sack.
Malik Tullis, (Creekside, Fairburn, GA) – Had a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
