Beat goes on for Ward, Bok

JIHAD WARD and beats are long-time buddies.

The one difference now, as opposed to 4 years ago, is that he uncorks those beats on opposing football players instead of defenseless snare drums.

Ward is a 6-6, 250-pound senior at Edward Bok Tech and he envisions making a living in engineering or music producing. Never know. Football might get in the way.

Connecticut and Towson have stopped at Bok to express personalized interest in Ward while schools such as Penn State, Georgia, Wisconsin and Nebraska have fired off letters. Once the word spreads even more, there could be a stampede.

"Jihad's the kind of kid I'd love to see make all-state," Bok coach Frank "Roscoe" Natale said. "He's everything you want in a player. From his ability to how he carries himself. Just a real good kid."

Yesterday, in a Public League AA game at Germantown's field that likely decided the regular-season championship (yes, even though we're only in mid-September), Ward starred on both sides of the ball as Bok jolted Imhotep Charter, 24-6.

On offense, lining up at split end, Ward made no catches. And in the interest of full disclosure, it must be reported that he did drop a pass. However, Ward's presence alone opened up the running game and you can imagine how intimidating, and effective, he was as a downfield blocker.

On defense, as an end in a four-man line, he recorded three tackles behind the line (1.5 sacks were included) and his pressure helped to force four interceptions.

To boot, he guided the troops.

"When I'm out there playing, everything has to be 100 percent," Ward said. "If not, the mission's a failure. We have to keep our heads in the game at all time.

"I'm always trying to put things back together. If one play gets messed up, that doesn't mean the whole game will. I constantly remind my teammates of that."

Bok's one messed-up play, from the defensive standpoint, occurred 5 minutes, 39 seconds before halftime as Imhotep's Eerin Young scampered 97 yards for a touchdown. Thereafter, the Panthers managed just one first down.

"That kind of stuff makes me happy, when we shut people down," Ward beamed.

Early, Ward was experiencing a hint of frustration.

"Their tackle, No. 70 [Aaron Ruff], was doing a good job against me," he said. "And they were sending their fullback at me, too. I was trying to come up with different moves [against Ruff] to get around him. I hand it to him. I liked going against him. Made for good competition."

Bok's defensive line also included end Vittorio Goggins and tackles Marqui Alfriend and Mark Webb, a sophomore. Alfriend, a staunch offensive lineman, recovered a fumble (pretty much in tandem with linebacker Robert Kralle).

Meanwhile, interceptions went to Antoine Whitney (two), Christen Lilly and John Richardson.

"You always hope the job we do up front will give us interceptions in the back," Ward said. "I do my job, do my job, then I turn around quick, trying to see what's happening downfield. I saw all four interceptions. Good feeling.

"I like defense way better than offense. Without a good defense, the offense doesn't even get a chance to execute right. Plus, I like hitting."

Ward's interest in music was developed during his stint at Andrew J. Morrison Elementary, at 3rd and Lindley, in Olney.

"I was never into playing the trumpet or any kind of instrument," said Ward, who lives on 16th near Lehigh, in North Philly, and also plays basketball and was a defensive back in the early portion of his Bok career. "I just liked the snare drums. They used to have these fashion shows in the assembly. I liked puttin' down the beat. Not as part of a band. Just doing it on my own.

"Everybody said they liked it. I'm still good at it. Just haven't done it [in public] lately. I need to get back to that."

Bok's offense was mostly the Shaquil Sammons Show (with one impressive exception). The 5-9, 190-pound senior carried 31 times for 196 yards and a 63-yard touchdown, all in the first 24 minutes. As for the exception . . .

Two minutes prior to halftime, Omar Bashir took a short pass from Marquise Brown along Bok's sideline and somehow stayed in bounds. No way it should have happened. But it did and he tightroped/dashed all the way to a 44-yard TD, even capping his performance with a front-flip into the end zone.

Aside from Young's l-o-n-g run, Imhotep's happiness was pretty much limited to a vintage defensive performance by end Byron Cooper (13 tackles, four for losses).

Almost exactly a year ago, Imhotep terminated Bok's 43-game winning streak against regular-season PL opposition, by 28-6. In the playoff final, the Wildcats outrageously turned the tables, 40-0.

"We don't even think about last year," Ward said. "Ancient history."

Don't bother trying to drum it up.