“There is no rest for the weary” – Common Idiom
“Claimbombing is when you just keep dropping names in conversations for no reason because you can.” – Maya Brown
If the DeMatha Stags (2-0) want to win a National Championship in High School Football then they can’t be worried about the mental lapses that fell under the scrutiny of a national ESPN audience last Monday. DeMatha is travelling to New Jersey to take on the Green Knights of Saint Joseph Regional in Montvale (0-0). The Green Knights opted to make the Stags their first opponents of the season in the high profile, annual Interstate 95 Kickoff Classic which matches teams from New Jersey against those from the DC metropolitan area.
Claimbombing nomenclature proponent, model, and personal friend, Maya Brown.
This important speculative high school football showcase was conceivably fabricated in order to consolidate the rankings between the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. (So far it hasn’t worked and DeMatha doesn’t even to benefit from “comparative losses” given their strength of schedule.) Still only wins matter and none of the teams participating can afford to take games lightly as the outcome of each game will be a deciding factor in the rankings the following year. In short, if any team from Maryland is going to have a chance at a national title then the easiest route is for all the Maryland teams to win their games against New Jersey competition -or at least most of the games played. The same is true, vice versa, for the New Jersey schools but DeMatha has clearly benefited from Maryland’s showing last year.
The jury is still out on what, exactly, the Green Knights are holding over there but DeMatha should maintain the focus on building a championship team. These antlers can’t possibly stay fuzzy for too much longer: the regular season starts in a fortnight. Classes have only been in session for a full week and I know that there is plenty to distract them from the task at hand right now. The key to a DeMatha victory is to improve upon overall team performance from prior weeks and to capitalize on real game experience. There are going to have to be a lot less turnovers and much better play execution in order for the Stags to accomplish that.
The main rub on the Green Knights is that they aren’t going to have any points of comparison to build on from 2013.
On to more claimbombing.
I would love to see that redheaded kid from Long Island throw for three hundred yards in a semi-homecoming but there is an easier victory to be had if DeMatha sticks with the run. The Stags’ offense is in the hands of QB #16 John Lovett and his ability to deliver the ball to playmakers like WR #5 Cameron Phillips and RB #28 Taiwon Deal. (I also love the check down plays to FB #32 Jaire George.) DeMatha has an outstanding defensive unit and I’m guessing that this is a game in which CB #3 Jamal Robinson, DE #9 Deonte Holden, and super sophomore DE #34 Shane Simmons will all truly emerge as outstanding talents.
The entire team seemed to breathe a sigh a relief when RB #1 Mark Allen was able to run for his first carry since tearing his ACL last year because he is just one more play maker with something to prove in 2013. I’m also expecting LB #33 Ju’Whuan Bentley to pick up where he left off by instilling fear in opposing teams. The entire DeMatha Stag Offensive Line needs to continue to do what they do (which is mainly block and weigh 300 lbs eat pancakes), as well.
So far, I don’t think that we have seen the true identity of this 2013 DeMatha Stag Football Team. Strength, speed, power, size, and finesse are all words that can be used to describe the team right now but will they also be great? DeMatha Catholic High School for Boys has certainly had great teams and each of them had a signature. Make sure you pay attention to all the signs.
I believe the game is being broadcast on the internet somewhere, so you will have to check Twitter for coverage…
The Chronicles of Six 