Imhotep rolls on Thanksgiving

IT HAS BECOME a rich football tradition to have rivalry games on Thanksgiving Day; regular-season records are buried and the competitive nature is unleashed.

However, Imhotep Charter was the one doing the unleashing, blanking Martin Luther King, 52-0, yesterday morning at Benjamin L. Johnston Memorial Field.

Senior D.J. Moore (two catches, 58 yards, TD) became the all-time Public League career receiving leader with 2,046 career yards on a 58-yard strike by senior QB Andre Dreuitt-Parks (6-for-8, 231 yards, three TDs) with 5:45 left in the third.

"It was a spectacular moment for me and I was happy that I went out breaking a record in my senior year," Moore said. "We came in as freshmen so we used to work out together every day.

"We talk almost every day and he's like a brother to me," Moore said of Dreuitt-Parks.

Dreuitt-Parks, who broke the Public League career passing record with 4,194 yards earlier this season, said his chemistry with Moore began when they were freshmen at Imhotep.

"It's unbelievable, me and D.J. came in here as freshmen and we carried the team as far as when the seniors left. During our sophomore year is when things really picked up," Dreuitt-Parks said of Moore "This year as seniors we just had to finish strong."

Moore will play football for Maryland next year and wants to major in Kinesiology. As for Thanksgiving dinner, he was looking forward to a healthy dose of macaroni and cheese.

It didn't take Imhotep's explosive offense long to get on the scoreboard as junior Mike Waters (135 yards on six carries four TDs) dashed 45 yards for the first of his four scores on the day with 11:27 left in the first quarter.

Waters followed that up with 40-yard sprint and a 5-yard trot that was set up by senior Shaquille Jones' interception to give the Panthers a 24-0 lead with 4:02 left in the first quarter.

King countered with an 81-yard drive that came to a halt as Imhotep senior Zaihr Wright snagged the first of his two interceptions from MLK sophomore QB Nasir Boykin.

On the ensuing possession, Dreuitt-Parks took advantage and aired out a strike to senior Khalif Clemons (2 catches, 89 yards, TD) for a 74-yard touchdown score. Dreuitt-Parks then connected with tight end Naseir Upshur (two catches, 82 yards, TD) for a 60-yard score.

The 6-4 junior regarded as one of the nation's top tight ends displayed his arsenal of open-field moves as he made a swift juke to the right before dashing 60 yards down the sidelines to give the Panthers a 40-0 lead at halftime.

The Cougars suffered a litany of turnovers deep in Panthers territory, preventing them from putting any points on the board.

Waters, who scored the final touchdown for the Panthers on a 20-yard scamper, has embraced the role as starting running back since Imhotep's leading rusher, junior Tyliek Raynor, went down with a knee injury right before the District 12 championship against Archbishop Wood. Imhotep lost that one, 42-34 loss.

"The big part was going out with a win because we took a big loss last week, and we wanted to show the city that we aren't sweet," Waters said. "I think next year Tyliek and I are going to be a strong 1-2 punch, and we are going to follow a big role of D.J."

The junior with a 4.2 GPA has received offers from Cincinnati, UMass, Temple and Wake Forest with an interest in business law. One of Waters' biggest inspirations to play football was his late father.

"I just keep strong; my dad is with me every step of the way," Waters said. "I think about my dad every time I run that ball. He is with me right now."

Imhotep Charter finishes the season 11-2 as the city's Public Class AAA champion, but Dreuitt-Parks expressed disappointment in not making it to states in his final year.

"Not happy about losing last week, but this is a great team, it's nothing better than playing with these guys," Dreuitt-Parks said.