South wins inaugural Chesapeake Bowl

Gilman senior Darius Jennings compiled 150 all-purpose yards to lead the South to a 30-27 come-from-behind win over the North in the inaugural Chesapeake Bowl, held Thursday night on the Towson University campus.

The North scored on its first two possessions at Johnny Unitas Stadium before the highly recruited Jennings, who has reportedly narrowed his choices to Ohio State, Virginia and Wake Forest, scored the South's first touchdown on a 10-yard run with 14:08 left in the second quarter.

The North scored again before left-handed quarterback Zach Dancel (Our Lady of Good Counsel) connected with Cincinnati-bound Malcolm Crockett (Friendship Collegiate) for a 34-yard touchdown to pull the South within seven, 21-14, just prior to halftime.

The South came out of the locker room with the same momentum that it went in with and quickly got on the scoreboard when Matt Zanellato (Lake Braddock) caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Percee Goings (Friendship Collegiate).



The South struck again when a 49-yard halfback pass from Jennings to Friendship wide receiverJordan Katrell set up a 20-yard field goalby DeMatha's Michael Branthover to give the South its first lead, 23-21.

A 52-yard touchdown run by Dancel late in the fourth quarter would prove to be the game-winner because, trailing by nine, the North scored another touchdown on its next and final possession.

The South squad featured players from schools in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia and West Virginia, while the North brought players from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

"It was a great week," South coach Biff Poggi (Gilman) said in an e-mail the day after the game. "I've coached in a bunch of all-star games, and this was the best experience I've had. It was a great bunch of kids and coaches."{PAGEBREAK}PHOEBUS STAR TYREE LEE BREAKS ANKLE
One of the problems with all-star games is the risk of injury. Highly-recruited Phoebus running back Tyree Lee broke his ankle while playing in the Chesapeake Bowl last week.

"Tyree is doing better [but the ankle is] still very painful," Phoebus coach Stan Sexton said in an e-mail Monday morning. "He has a doctor's appointment this morning and we will know more then."

Sexton confirmed in the e-mail that Lee has scholarship offers from Old Dominion and Hampton University and they are "working on the University of Virginia and other Division I schools."



PHOEBUS RUNS INTO TROUBLE AT FINALS
Lee was a member of Phoebus' Division 5 state championship team, whose third consecutive title was marred when several players were caught stealing electronic devices and cell phones from the gym bags of Battlefield High players, according to a report in the Washington Post. Battlefield High won the Division 6 championship and the teams shared a locker room during the transitional period in between games at Scott Stadium on the University of Virginia campus.

According to several reports all of the stolen items were returned when game officials would not let the Phoebus team depart until the situation was rectified.

Messages left for Phoebus High principal Robert Johnson and athletic director Deonna Brown regarding what, if any, consequences were levied against the guilty players, were not immediately returned.

Jon Buzby is the sports columnist for the Newark Post, a freelance writer, and on the broadcast team for the 1290AM The Ticket High School Football and Basketball Games of the Week. You can reach him at jonbuzby@hotmail.com.