Sherwood’s Demetrius Reed helps White Team win GICAA all-star game

ALBANY — Just two weeks removed from bringing home the school’s first state football championship, Sherwood Christian Academy hosted the GICAA’s inaugural all-star game Saturday afternoon.

Players from nearly 20 schools took the field for the game. The Red Team, headed by Chuck Wimberly of Thomas Jefferson Academy, lost 33-16 to the White Team, coached by Sherwood’s Otis Covington.

“It was a lot of fun,” Covington said of the game. “I really enjoyed it. You’ve got guys that you know from competing against, and then we had a lot of players we had never seen because they play on different sides of the league. Getting to know them, work with them, and help build them up has been a blast. I’m honored to be the head coach of the White Team.”

Five Eagle seniors took part in the game — receiver/defensive back Ben Williams, linebacker Chris Hudson, tailback Demetrius Reed, lineman Steven Tosky and athlete Kenney Brown

“Obviously, winning the state championship was fun,” said Williams, who snagged an interception in the fourth quarter to prevent any chance of a comeback for the Red squad. “My last two games were the greatest games I ever got to play in.”

While there were no rings to be won at the end of this one, the game wasn’t a zero-sum situation.

“Hopefully it gives them extra game film against all-star competition that they can use to show recruiters,” Covington said of the benefits.

“They can say ‘if I’m playing in my league, and we were a top team, here’s me playing against the top players in my league.’ Hopefully that opens some doors for them.”

One player who could benefit the most from Saturday’s event — Demetrius Reed — took advantage of the opportunity.

“It was pretty fun,’ said Reed, who scored twice in the Eagles’ championship win over Calvary Christian in the state championship game.

The Eagles’ most explosive offensive threat was back to his old tricks on Saturday, getting into the end zone three times. This time, he scored on a 35-yard catch-and-run, a 2-yard plunge, and a 10-yard scamper.

“I came out here and gave my all,” Reed said. “It was the last game of the season, so you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I had to leave it all on the field.”

Reed gained over 100 yards on the ground in what was yet another stellar performance. He’s receiving interest from Morgan State and Kennesaw State, while planning on visiting Tusculum College of Tennessee in January. Williams is deciding between Kennesaw and Sanford College.

As he prepared to walk off the field for the last time as a player, Reed only had one simple message to the Eagle faithful.

“I just want to say congratulations to my head coach, the coaching staff, the entire team, my school, and thanks for a good season,” he said.

GISA ALL-STAR GAME: The Georgia Independent Schools Association held its all-star game on Saturday as well at Mercer University in Macon. The West team, coached by Tiftarea head coach Ryan Branch, won the game.

A wealth of Southwest Georgia athletes played on the West team: Austin Fallaw, Dakari Cutts, Austin Cain and Chris Boswell of Deerfield-Windsor as well as Tanner Powell (Southwest Georgia), Perry Bridges (Southwest Georgia), Taft Logan (Southwest Georgia), Hunter Weldon (Southland), Caulden Smith (Southland), Colt Stephens (Southland, Ryan Weaver (Southland), Raleigh Carlson (Terrell Academy), Charlie Massey (Tiftarea), Jack Raines (Tiftarea), Layne Powell (Tiftarea), Ross Sutton (Tiftarea) and Chason Worsham (Westwood).