BALTIMORE — A new era at
DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) started Saturday afternoon at the I-95 Kick Off Classic on the Morgan State University campus. And it started out exactly as rookie head coach Elijah Brooks had dreamed it would.
Less than three minutes into the game, DeMatha senior running back Charlie Jordan sprinted 77 yards for a score to give his rookie coach the first lead of his head-coaching career. In the end, the touchdown celebration would prove to be just a prelude to Brooks' first career win, a thrilling 24-20 win over
Loyola Blakefield (Towson, Md.).
"It feels great," said Brooks, a DeMatha alum who took over for legendary coach Bill McGregor, who built a national power at the Hyattsville private school during his 29 years as head coach. "It was definitely a nerve-racking game. I'm just happy we got a win."
Charlie Jordan was off and running early in DeMatha's 24-20 win on Saturday.
Photo By Jim Stout
It was a hard-fought win that looked, early on, as if it might come easy.
The Stags stopped Loyola on its first two possessions and then, on first-and-10 from his own 29-yard line, DeMatha sophomore quarterback Jamal Robinson found a wide-open Chris King in the flat and the senior wide receiver sprinted 71 yards into the end zone.
"They were a good team," said a starry-eyed Robinson, who completed five of 11 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and an interception. "It was a tough game. It's much different than playing freshmen football. I learned a lot of lessons, like where to go with the ball, how to respond to adversity and stuff like that."
Much to the DeMatha sideline's surprise, just as it looked like the Stags would run away with the game, Loyola scored 20 unanswered points.
The Dons' first score came with just 57 seconds remaining in the first quarter when senior quarterback Jake Clise rumbled 58 yards on a quarterback-keeper to pull the Dons within 14-7.
After Loyola (0-1) was forced to punt on its next two possessions, Clise put together two consecutive scoring drives of just three plays each. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander connected on touchdown passes of 21 and 32 yards to senior wide receiver Jordan Floyd and senior running back Kacy Kapinos, respectively, to give the Dons a 20-14 lead. Clise would finish the game completing 12 of 23 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns, and rush for another 90 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
DeMatha took the lead right back on its next possession when Jordan sprinted untouched down the right sideline 65 yards for a score. Senior kicker Jason Dillon's extra point gave the Stags a 21-20 halftime lead.
Elijah Brooks, right, with Charlie Jordan after the game.
Photo by Jim Stout
"I told the team that we made some mistakes that were on us and that we have to finish out the game the DeMatha way and finish strong," Brooks said of his halftime speech.
DeMatha's defense started the second half strong. Sophomore defensive back Jarriel Jordan's interception of a Clise pass set the Stags up for a 32-yard field goal by Dillon to extend the lead to 24-20.
Loyola opened up the fourth quarter driving the ball 79 yards on 10 plays to the DeMatha 1-yard line. But on fourth-and-goal, Clise rolled to his right, and just as he let go of his pass aimed at a wide-open receiver in the back corner of the end zone, Virginia-bound defensive end Mike Moore reached up and smacked the football to the ground, ending what would be the Dons' final threat of the game.
"I knew it was a great thing for our defense and it was time for offense to finish the deal," Moore, who was in on at least four tackles for loss and had several other assists, said of his final defensive effort.
Jordan carried the ball 19 times for a game-high 202 yards and two touchdowns. But after the game, the senior leader seemed to be more happy about his coach's first win than of his individual statistics.
"My only speech before the game with my team was that we had to start the new era off good," a satisfied and relieved Jordan said as he walked off the field.
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