Left to right Imhotep’s: Joseph Sondah, Zaire Pollard, Charles Belser and Jesse Moody
MECHANICSBURG, PA — It’s not the way they wanted to end their high school football careers, though they got to do it together. The Imhotep Charter quartet of Joseph Sondah, Zaire Pollard, Charles Belser and Jesse Moody all had an impact Sunday in the 69th Big 33 game against Maryland all-stars.
Finally, after two overtimes, Maryland came out ahead for the second-straight year, 18-10, at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field, despite 9 tackles by the uncommitted Belser, who was all over the field.
Last year, Maryland had snapped a long draught by beating Pennsylvania, which leads the series 16-5.
Belser will be going to Garden City Community College in Kansas and then renew his college options. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Imhotep inside linebacker still has his mind set on Michigan State, and by his play, was willing to go all out in an all-star game.
“That’s what I was hoping to prove by anyone watching me,” Belser said. “It’s the reason why I played in this game. I had to show people what I was capable of since I was going JUCO. I didn’t want people to forget about me.”
Maryland won the game in the second overtime when Arundel’s Jonathan Coleman ran a two-yard sweep on fourth-and-goal. Wise’s Kameron Parker added the two-point conversion and Pennsylvania could do little offensively to tying the score.
“I’m upset, our offense should have been stronger, and I wanted to go out a winner,” said Moody, who is committed to the University of Maryland and is scheduled to report on June 13. “It was great going out with my guys though. It’s all good. I’m ready for college. I;m ready to go and be a star.”
Maryland tied the score late, when on a second-and-12 from the 21, a scrambling Blake Pasik (Northern) hit Michael Robinson (Edgewood) for a tying score with 2:12 to play.
Pennsylvania, meanwhile, struggled to move the ball on its first four drives of the second half, going three-and-out each time. The furthest PA went in those four series was the PA-32. Otherwise, PA could not cross midfield.
Before PA’s final drive of the game, Maryland had outgained PA 123 to minus-4 in total yards. For the game, Maryland outgained Pennsylvania 272 to 122, with PA going minus-7 yards of offense in the second half and overtime, while Maryland pounded PA for 153 yards of offense in the second half and OT.
After Maryland tied the score, Maryland helped PA by kicking the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, giving PA possession at the PA 40, its best field position of the second half. From there, Neshaminy’s Michael Eckart got PA to within the Maryland 37, before throwing an interception to Maryland’s Kyree Murphy (Milord Mill) in the final seconds of regulation.
Pennsylvania went into halftime leading, 7-0, in what was a pretty lackluster first 30 minutes for both teams. Pennsylvania ran off 23 for 129 total yards, averaging 5.6 yards a play. Maryland was slightly off, amassing 119 yards over 30 plays, averaging 3.9 yards a play. The play was chippy, with post-play shoving and pushing, with Maryland drawing five penalties for 45 yards, including two personal foul calls, while Pennsylvania was flagged four times for 28 yards.
Pennsylvania took its opening drive 75 yards over 11 plays, with some help from a roughing-the-quarterback call and 23-yard run by Imhotep Charter’s Zaire Pollard, taking the ball to the Maryland 24. Pennsylvania scored four plays later, when Manheim Township’s Jack Kenneff hit Spring-Ford’s Blake Turner crossing over the middle for a 13-yard score.
Otherwise, it was an uneventful half.
Maryland had its chances to score. Maryland drove to the PA 23 on its first drive, but a 40-yard field goal attempt by Severna Park’s Gavin Fetty failed. Midway through the second quarter, Maryland was on the move again, but Maryland quarterback Blake Pasik’s attempt to reach the PA 20 was thwarted at the PA 21. By halftime, Imhotep’s Charles Belser had five tackles, three within the first two drives.
In the closing seconds of the half, Pennsylvania had a chance to go up 10-0, but a Brady Biscoe’s 31-yard field goal failed ending the second quarter.
Scoring Summary
Maryland 0 0 0 7 3 8-18
Pennsylvania 0 7 0 0 3 0-10
1st Quarter
PA – Blake Turner (Spring-Ford) 13 pass from Jack Kenneff (Manheim Township) (Brady Biscoe (Hempfield) kick), 1:24
4th Quarter
MD – Michael Robinson (Edgewood) 21 pass from Blake Pasik (Northern) (Gavin Fetty (Severna Park) kick), 2:12
OT
PA – Biscoe 51 FG
MD – Fetty 24 FG
2OT
MD – Jonathan Coleman (Arundel) 2 run (Kameron Parker (Wise) run)
PA – Failed
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been covering high school football since 1992 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow EasternPAFootball.com on Twitter @EPAFootball.