KFDM COOP Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 Locals makes Bayou Bowl team By Dave Rogers Published February 22, 2008 J.T. Cleveland, a three-year all-district selection for Lee’s football team, heads up a list of 20 players chosen to play in the June 7 Bayou Bowl. “He’s real good,†Gander football coach Dick Olin said, stating the obvious about the 6-foot-1, 275-pound defensive tackle who signed earlier this month to continue his career at Sam Houston State. “The only reason J.T.’s not at a major college is because of his height, not his ability to play.†Olin presented the defensive picks at the Bayou Bowl’s monthly steering committee meeting Thursday. He’s the game’s liaison with the Greater Houston Football Coaches Association, which chooses the Texas team for the annual high school all-star football game at Baytown’s Stallworth Stadium. “I’m not part of the selection process,†he was quick to say. “I submitted tape just like any other coach.†Defensive all-star selections were made by Clear Creek coach Darrell Warden and Clear Lake coach Troy Aduddell and they were released only after the players had committed to play in the game. Loose ends delayed the release of the offensive picks, but Olin said they will be available soon. The announcement of the Louisiana all-stars is also forthcoming. The game, presented by the City of Baytown, benefits the Shriner Hospitals for Children. Last year’s game generated a $33,000 gift. The defensive list announced Thursday included 20 players, including two each from Eisenhower, Pearland, Galveston Ball and Beaumont West Brook. Olin, of course, was familiar with the West Brook duo of Blake Chavis and Marcus Malbrough. Both are defensive ends and have signed with Big 12 schools, Chavis at Texas A&M and Malbrough at Missouri. “With those guys in all-star game, all they’ve got to do is come around the tackle, because they (the Louisiana team) are going to be in the (shot) gun,†the Gander coach said. “Those two kids can run.†Three finalists for the Touchdown Club’s High School Player of the Year award are on the Bayou Bowl roster, defensive backs Broderick Brown of Westfield, Royce Hill of Cypress Ridge and Cody Worthen of Clear Lake. Linebacker Rod Davis from Eisenhower, a Texas A&M signee, was one of Greater Houston’s top recruits for 2007. Ditto for defensive back Josh Hill of Klein Forest, who signed with California. Linebacker Anthony Lewis of Aldine was second-team all-state. Two of the more interesting names on the list are players better known for their offense. Johnny Thomas was a top-tier running back for Texas City who is expected to play safety for Oklahoma State. Strake Jesuit’s Jeff McVaney quarterbacked as a senior, but will play linebacker in the Bayou Bowl, where he was an all-district pick in 2006. Others named to the team include Rosenberg Terry cornerback Anthony Brown, Galveston Ball linebacker Erroll Garrett, Ball safety Michael Littleton and Fort Bend Marshall tackle Phillip Longino. Also, Clear Creek end Derek McGahee, Pearland end Bernard Obie, Pearland linebacker Gary Robertson, North Shore linebacker Justin Rogers and Eisenhower linebacker Darius Willis. As was the case a year ago, University of Texas recruits will be unable to play in the Bayou Bowl because of a conflict with classes and summer workouts, Olin said. Sponsors are actively being sought both for the game and the May 30 Bayou Bowl Celebrity Golf Tournament at Goose Creek Country Club. For more information, go to www.bayoubowl.org .
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