Miami girl makes history for Northwestern

Coach Billy Rolle of Miami-Dade County powerhouse Northwestern (Miami) turned a dilemma into a history-making game last Thursday in the undefeated Bulls' 38-12 Class 6A District 13 win against Hialeah.

More than half of Northwestern's varsity roster, including almost the entire defensive unit, was suspended for the game for its involvement in an altercation the week before, forcing Rolle to promote several players from the Bulls' junior varsity team for the matchup against Hialeah.

One of the JV players called up to the varsity was sophomore defensive back Jalene DeJesus, who became the first female in Northwestern's storied history to suit up for varsity game.

DeJesus made more history when she was inserted into the game at cornerback with about a minute remaining.

"I told our players before the game, they had a chance to be part of history," Rolle told the Miami Herald. "She works hard and deserved the opportunity to dress just like the other athletes we brought up for the game."

2. Pretty in pink and pretty fast: Laurel Brennan, a sophomore at North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek), is easy to find in a pack of runners because of her stunning pink Saucony shoes, but she also is distinguishing herself as one of South Florida's fastest cross-country runners. Last Saturday, Brennan clocked the fastest time (19 minutes, 29 seconds) of any girl over the 3.1-mile course at the Spanish River Invitational in Boca Raton. Sixty schools participated in the annual meet, making it the second-largest invitational in the state. Ryan Pickering of Palm Beach County power Leonard (Lake Worth) broke the 15-minute barrier with a winning time of 14:57 to highlight the boys races.

3. Just call him the Mail Man: The U. S. Postal Service is renown for delivering the mail in all kinds of weather conditions. The slogan fits quarterback Javan Shashaty of Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale). Shashaty turned in another stellar performance in Calvary's 35-0 victory against Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale) last week, passing for 334 yards and four touchdowns despite a pouring rain for much of the game. Junior wide receiver Greg Mabin caught all four of Shashaty's touchdown passes, which covered 61, 25, 39 and 43 yards, to finish with 184 yards receiving. Shashaty is now only 289 yards shy of the Broward County career passing yardage record.

4. A win for the ages: Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach) is celebrating a half century of football at the private Catholic school this season, and last Friday the program honored the 103 players selected to its All-Newman 50-Year Team, which includes five former players who made it to the NFL: John Carney (Class of 1983), Craig Erickson (’87), Chris T. Jones (’90), Abram Elam (’00) and Jacoby Ford (’05). Many of them, including retired legendary coach Sam Budnyk, were on hand last Friday night for Newman's key district game against Pahokee, which has won five state titles in the past eight years. The former stars, decked out in special commemorative jerseys with the numbers they wore in high school, were treated to a huge win by the home team, as Newman defeated Pahokee 14-7, intercepting a pass in the end zone on the final play of the game to secure the victory, the unbeaten Crusaders' fourth in a row.

5. Recruiting stock rising fast: Perhaps one of the most underrated running backs in the state, at least at the start of the season, is senior tailback Tre Mason of Park Vista (Lake Worth). That rapidly might be changing, however. Mason rushed for 292 yards and three touchdowns in a little more than three quarters of work last week in Park Vista's 35-13 win against Palm Beach Central. Making Mason's performance even more impressive was the fact that two of Park Vista's highly touted offensive linemen (South Carolina verbal commit Mike Matulis and Wake Forest-bound Cody Preble) had to sit out the game because of knee injuries. According to stats compiled by The Palm Beach Post, Mason now has a county-leading 667 yards rushing and is averaging 9.9 yards per carry. He has scored 10 touchdowns for the unbeaten Cobras (4-0), who have an open date this week.

TOP PERFORMERS
* David Thompson of Westminster Christian (Miami) rushed for 228 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries and also completed 7 of 14 passes for 136 yards in a 43-7 win against Highlands Christian (Pompano Beach).

* Dane James completed 15 of 28 passes for 301 yards and threw a career-high five touchdown passes to lead Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes) to a 40-7 win against Coconut Creek. His favorite target was Jesse York, widely considered the top receiving prospect in the state, who had eight catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

* Washington (Miami) quarterback Jeremiah Haye completed 22 of 33 passes for 286 yards and four touchdowns in the unbeaten Tornadoes' 42-14 win against Coral Gables.

* Tavarius Walker rushed for 219 yards on 22 carries to lead unbeaten Ely (Pompano Beach) to a 27-0 win over Deerfield Beach.

THIS WEEK'S TOP MATCHUPS IN FLORIDA
* The most hyped game will be played Friday night when unbeaten St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) plays host to unbeaten Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.).

* Two unbeaten Miami-Dade County powers square off Saturday night when Northwestern clashes with Washington at Traz Powell Stadium.

* Nationally ranked Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) travels to Delray Beach to face once-beaten Atlantic (Delray Beach) in the marquee matchup in Palm Beach County on Friday.

RECRUITING NEWS
Duke Johnson, a junior running back/defensive back at Norland (Miami) who will be one of the top-rated prospects next year, last weekend made a verbal commitment to the Miami Hurricanes. Johnson, whose name is Randy, rushed for 1,540 yards and 25 touchdowns as a sophomore and is averaging more than 100 yards a game through three games this season. He’s the second underclassman from Norland to commit to the 'Canes this month, joining junior linebacker Keith Brown. . . . Highly touted offensive lineman Cody Preble of Park Vista (Boynton Beach) said he remains totally committed to Wake Forest and will make his official visit to the ACC school this weekend. Preble (6-5, 280) has had to sit out the first four games this season while nursing a knee injury but said he anticipates being cleared to return to action next week. . . . Miramar standout defensive back Steven Montgomery, one of the top prospects in Broward County, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that he has narrowed his top five schools to LSU, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina and West Virginia. . . . . American Heritage (Plantation) offensive lineman Russell Haughton-James (6-6, 280) has verbally committed to Minnesota and Plantation linebacker Jerome Howard (5-11, 195) has committed to Western Kentucky.

DORSEY'S DIGS
One of the most knowledgeable baseball men I've ever had the pleasure to chat with over the years has left us. Palm Beach County resident and former Major League pitcher Bob Shaw, who bested Sandy Koufax and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1959 World Series, lost his battle with liver cancer last Thursday. Mr. Shaw was 77. I last ran into him in March at a Spring Training game at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, and his passing is a big loss for those whose lives he touched as a widely popular and successful coach, especially with high school players. Among the numerous players who went on to play in college, and some in the major leagues, are current University of Florida head coach Kevin O'Sullivan and Palm Beach Central coach Scott Benedict, one of the most successful high school coaches in the state. "I feel like I owe everything I've done in baseball to him," said Benedict, who was the captain of the Palm Beach Post 12 team that played in the 1977 American Legion World Series. Nine years later Mr. Shaw coached the Jensen Beach Post 126 team that won the Legion World Series and included future major leaguers Joe Grahe and Rusty Meacham. Mr. Shaw also authored a book "Pitching: The Basic Fundamentals and Mechanics of Successful Pitching" that Benedict said is the best book he's ever read on the art of pitching. He was well respected and a legendary coach in the state and he will be missed by many.