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Academy Park Takes Aim At Giant Imhotep Charter

By Joseph Santoliquito

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — It's one of those little-engine-that-could stories, involving a team that many were not expecting to still be playing in December, let alone be undefeated at 13-0. But that's where Academy Park is. The Knights have achieved new heights this year, breaking one school record after another. They just won their second PIAA District 1 Class AAA championship in three years and face powerhouse Imhotep Charter this Friday night at 7 p.m. at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in the Class AAA state quarterfinals.

And again, no one really thinks the Knights can win-except the guys in the Academy Park locker room. The last time the Knights were undefeated was when they were 10-0, when Bill Cubit, currently the head coach at Illinois, was Academy Park's coach in 1982.

Under head coach Jason Vosheski, the program has been one of the best in District 1 Class AAA for the last five years. Vosheski, a Ridley grad, shaped a team that once had no feeder programs and with little support, into a viable threat to win the District 1 title every year.

"My kids probably hear me in their nightmares, because I yell at them every day," Vosheski said with a laugh. "In the hallway, they're hearing me, and it's trivial stuff. We tell our kids at the end of the year that they're better than every other kid, because they're putting up with us (an old-school coaching staff) all year long, and they have to hear us. We're all very similar. We had kids that quit. But our kids have become more tough minded. And it shows. It's been a very special four years. When we won the Del Val League in 2012 that was just the tip. Everything culminated from that. Every playoff game we've lost we've lost by one point.

"We always have a constant chip on our shoulder. Whether we as coaches put it there, or the kids see it. We play with that edge. We know what's out there. We know what people think of us. So what. We're going to go out and have a good time. All of the pressure is on (Imhotep). This is our prize. We don't even bring up the opponent. To heck with them. We're not going to bow to anybody. I like the fact no one gives us a chance. It helps us play loose. Who knows what can happen on this field Friday night. We're a pretty good football team."

Someone that believes it is Imhotep coach Albie Crosby.

"They have one of the best defenses in the state, and I have no problem saying that," Crosby said. "I know those Academy Park kids. They have a lot of fight in them. Here's the reality. People may say that Academy Park is walking into this game as the underdog. But every game they've walked from this year they've successful. That's all they know is success."

The reason why are players like senior Jawan Collins, who never played quarterback before the Knights last two games, and an offensive line that includes Nykeal Jalloh, Chris Thomas, Dan Kemp, Marion Holmes and John Ellis, along with linebacker Jeremy Dembry, who was all over the field in Academy Park's 26-14 win over Upper Moreland in the district championship.

"We didn't know this would happen," said Collins, who rushed for 190 yards and three TDS in the district title game. "This team is like a family. We all grew up together. We know we have each other's backs. We don't think we can lose if we stay together. We're not afraid of Imhotep. We like the chip on our shoulders. We believe in ourselves and I think that's the most important thing."

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