Bartram's defense strong in upset of Lincoln

A SMALL BUS brimming with the John Bartram football team pulled into Abraham Lincoln at 2:50 p.m. for a 3 p.m. non-league kickoff.

After Bartram's bus arrived in Southwest Philadelphia 50 minutes late, traffic made the cross-city trip unbearable, and the players were in desperate need of some relief.

Upon exiting the vehicle at Lincoln, nearly a dozen Bartram players headed for the bushes atop a hill behind the visitor's sideline to find said relief.

"That bus ride was, like, an hour," Bartram junior Makai Sheed said with a sheepish grin. "So that's why we had to go to the bathroom."

It had also been a while since the Public League AAA Bravehearts felt victory, which they did Friday after a stunning 20-6 victory over Lincoln, a Public League AAAA Silver playoff team.

Sheed's 34-yard interception return for a touchdown just before halftime gave Bartram the momentum it needed to earn its first win since Week 1 against West Philadelphia.

"I just saw daylight," the 5-10, 180-pound linebacker said. "When I caught the ball, I just saw daylight."

The 17-year-old headlined a defensive effort that coach Jim Chapman hadn't seen in months. Sophomore Tayshawn Stringfield also had an interception, and seniors Stanton Coleman and Kareem Kone added sacks.

"You never let up today," Chapman told his troops after the win. "That's the first time I've seen you guys do that all season."

After the game started 25 minutes late, Lincoln needed less than 6 minutes to drive 62 yards for a 6-0 advantage on a 3-yard TD run by senior quarterback Devon Thompkins. However, the failed conversion run that followed was a harbinger for the afternoon.

Lincoln managed only 103 yards of total offense for the rest of the game.

Kifee Ryant set up Bartram's first score by forcing a fumble that was scooped by Kadafi Yallah. Quarterback Braheem Edwards scored four plays and 37 yards later on a 6-yard keeper. Edwards also added the two-pointer.

Sheed's pick-6 with only 11 seconds remaining before halftime turned the game around. He jumped a slant route and headed for the end zone.

"It felt like a dream," he said.

Later, Edwards connected with junior Gary Grisson-Johnson for a 9-yard TD pass that made it 20-6, punctuating the victory.

For Sheed, his instincts had to remain sharp even during the postgame interview. Running-backs coach James Ockimey crept up from behind with sophomore Hanson Teah and other teammates holding a Gatorade jug.

Sheed was hip to the rouse and bounced away unscathed with a giant smile on his face.

"It feels good, because we haven't won since Week 1," Sheed said. "We feel like we played as a team today."