Select '17 Tracker: Isaiah Pryor, Marcus Williamson Help IMG Fend Off Shaun Wade and Trinity Christian While Amir Riep's Interception Helps Colerain Seal 17th-Consecutive Conference Title

By Andrew Lind on October 23, 2016 at 11:30 am
Isaiah Pryor
Isaiah Pryor
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BATTLE OF THE BUCKEYES

Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy may be the top high school football program in the country, but Jacksonville's Trinity Christian gave the Ascenders all they could handle in Friday night's nationally televised game. 

Though No. 2 IMG won 34-21, Ohio State cornerback commit Shaun Wade single-handedly kept Trinity Christin within striking distance all evening. His first half interception allowed the Conquerors to take a 7-6 lead into halftime, and his two touchdown receptions in the second half made it a one-score game late. 

At one point, Wade even raced past future teammates Isaiah Pryor and Marcus Williamson for the score. 

"It was fun," Williamson told Eleven Warriors. "[Shaun] got the best of me once, but it was fun competing [against him]."

But in the end, it was IMG that came away with its 25th-consecutive victory and avenged one of three losses in school history. 

“It's just another step in the journey to go undefeated,” Williamson said.

The Ascenders have four more games against opponents from all over the country, but rumors have begun to surface about the possibility of playing a de facto national championship game against Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman following the season. 

"We advocate for it to happen," Williamson said. "It's something the whole country wants to see, and hopefully it comes to fruition."

At least five future Buckeyes would be involved in such a contest - though wideout Tyjon Lindsey has been sidelined with a knee injury - so sign me up.

TUMBLEWEEDS IN THE DESERT

Speaking of Bishop Gorman...

Ohio State quarterback commit Tate Martell continues to show why he's one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country for the Class of 2017, tossing a pair of touchdown passes and rushing for two more in a lopsided 71-0 win over Desert Oasis. 

Martell played only the first half, as the Gaels led 42-0 on their way to their 48th-straight victory. The seven-time Nevada state champions have not lost to an in-state team since 2008.

Defensive tackle pledge Haskell Garrett had two sacks and forced a fumble in the end zone, helping Bishop Gorman post its second-consecutive shutout. The Gaels have only allowed seven points in the last three games over extremely overmatched opponents.

"Defensively, the kids played lights out," Bishop Gorman head coach Kenny Sanchez told the Las Vegas Sun. 

OHIO'S BEST

While it won't get the chance to showcase itself at the national level like the aforementioned programs, Colerain can lay claim to a feat that would make even Bishop Gorman and IMG Academy envious.

With a 31-0 win over Lakota West on Friday night, the Cardinals secured their 17th-consecutive Greater Miami Conference title.

Colerain, ranked No. 14 in the latest USA Today Super 25 national poll, rushed out to an early lead thanks to an interception by Ohio State cornerback commit Amir Riep. It was his third interception season, setting up the Cardinals with great field position to take a 14-0 first quarter lead.

“We're going to get everybody's best shot, and I told the kids we have to be ready to go,” Colerain head coach Tom Bolden told Cincinnati.com. “If you do that to a team early, and let them know you're here and ready to roll, it goes a long way.”

2017 OHIO STATE FOOTBALL COMMITS
Name Pos High School Opponent Score Stats/News
JOSH MYERS OT MIAMISBURG (OH) BEAVERCREEK (OH) W, 28-7 Paved way for RB to record 4th-consecutive 100 YRD game
WYATT DAVIS OG ST. JOHN BOSCO (CA) MATER DEI (CA) L, 26-21 Braves rushed for more than 250 YRDs
TREVON GRIMES WR ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (FL) BOYD ANDERSON (FL) W, 42-7 Out for season (ACL)
SHAUN WADE CB TRINITY CHRISTIAN (FL) IMG ACADEMY (FL) L, 34-21 2 TD receptions and 1 INT
CHASE YOUNG WDE DeMATHA CATHOLIC (MD) ARCHBISHOP CARROLL (DC)  W, 42-0 Helped DeMatha record first shutout of season
TYJON LINDSEY WR BISHOP GORMAN (NV) at DESERT OASIS (NV) W, 71-0 Out for season (knee)
J.K. DOBBINS APB LA GRANGE (TX) at COLUMBUS (TX) W, 31-15 DNP (ankle)
ISAIAH PRYOR DB IMG ACADEMY (FL) TRINITY CHRISTIAN (FL) W, 34-21 Forced fumble
TATE MARTELL DUAL BISHOP GORMAN (NV) DESERT OASIS (NV) W, 71-0 2 passing and 2 rushing TDs
HASKELL GARRETT DT BISHOP GORMAN (NV) DESERT OASIS (NV) W, 71-0 2 sacks and a forced fumble
JAKE MORETTI OL POMONA (CO) at MOUNTAIN VISTA (CO) W, 48-7 Out for season (knee)
BRENDON WHITE ATH OLENTANGY LIBERTY (OH) OLENTANGY ORANGE (OH) W, 20-13 2-for-6 passing for 10 YRDs and 2 INTs, 9 carries for 23 yards (left game with ankle injury in 1st quarter)
AMIR RIEP CB COLERAIN (OH) LAKOTA WEST (OH) W, 31-0 1 INT
MARCUS WILLIAMSON DB IMG ACADEMY (FL) TRINITY CHRISTIAN (FL) W, 34-21 2 tackles and 2 PBUs
JERRON CAGE DT WINTON WOODS (OH) JACKSON (OH) W, 33-17 6 tackles
ANTJUAN SIMMONS OLB PIONEER (MI) YPSILANTI (MI) W, 30-13 Rushing TD, passing TD and pick-six
BLAKE HAUBEIL K CANISIUS (NY) BISHOP TIMON-ST. JUDE (NY) L, 7-0 Did not record a statistic
2018 OHIO STATE FOOTBALL COMMITS
Name Pos High School Opponent Score Stats/News
EMORY JONES QB HEARD COUNTY (GA) JORDAN (GA) W, 41-20 DNP (shoulder)
BRIAN SNEAD RB ARMWOOD (FL) KING (FL) W, 41-0 2 rushing TDs (66 and 29 YRDs)
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