A rivalry game tune-up? Team FSP crushes Texas-based PPT Elite, 63-0
PUYALLUP - A day after older brother Junior Alexander made big-play waves at the Washington Huskies spring game - Xe'ree Alexander followed suit.
It was the highlight sequence in a dominant result.
The Kennedy Catholic junior returned a tipped pass 75 yards for a touchdown just 90 seconds into the game, and Ford Sports Performance rudely welcomed its visitors from Texas to the brand of football in the Pacific Northwest.
FSP won, 63-0, over Dallas-based PPT Elite Football Academy on Sunday afternoon at Chief Leschi High School.
The game was set up to be lopsided from the get-go - the Texas club brought 18 players on the trip.
And they were no match for FSP's firepower - starting with Federal Way sophomore Rahshawn Clark's 15-yard touchdown run on the team's second play from scrimmage for a quick 7-0 lead.
A minute later, as PPT Elite went on its best drive of the game near midfield, it was Alexander who stole the moment from his inside linebacker position. He collected a tipped ball and raced 75 yards down the left sideline for the score - and 14-0 lead.
"When I saw the tipped ball, I knew it was my time to shine," Alexander said.
When it was mentioned his brother - a former all-state wide receiver at Kennedy Catholic - had a big showing at Husky Stadium, Alexander smiled.
"We are both ballers," Alexander said.
After that, a few others got in on the act: Carlos Matheney, of Tumwater, scored the first of his game-high two touchdowns on a 23-yard scamper at the 5:36 mark of the first quarter.
Then the series-switching quarterbacks got going as Emerald Ridge's Jake Schakel threw a 15-yard touchdown to Gabe Hoffman, the massive tight end from Eastside Catholic, for a 28-0 lead.
And after Meadowdale's Kelvin Mudaliar recovered a PPT fumble inside the 5-yard line, Glacier Peak signal caller River Lien called his own number and scored on a keeper on the next play - and FSP had a 35-0 lead with 8.2 seconds to go.
After the game, many of the FSP players were already talking about an act-two rematch with their Washington club rival - Heir Football Academy - in four weeks.
Heir flies out to Texas next Wednesday to play this same PPT Elite team in Texas.
"I hope it’s as electric, if not more, than last year," Schakel said. "Everybody was talking about it. Fans were from half and half. And I know (the game) will be a little closer than this."
Rewind: 2021 FSP-Heir showdown
In star-studded padded 'all-star' game, small-town high school standouts found ways to shine
Highlights: FSP takes down Heir in matchup between training facilities
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Video by Imani Jonas (@imanisvision)
