Ex-Panther helps claim Grey Cup
In Sunday night's Grey Cup match in the Canadian Football League, there were plenty of twists and turns. But in the end, Montreal defeated Saskatchewan to claim the CFL championship.
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The Alouettes lined up for the game-winning field goal, but kicker Damon Duval missed, giving Saskatchewan an apparent victory.
However, the Rough Riders had too many men on the field, giving Duval a chance for redemption. Duval seized the moment, nailing a 33-yard field goal as time expired.
Former Lakeside High School standout Brian Bratton did his part for Montreal. The speedy wide receiver caught two passes for 39 yards, including a 33-yard catch that set up one of Montreal's scores. He also helped give his team great field position by returning three kickoffs for 82 yards.
Bratton and the Alouettes finished 17-3 on the season, including the playoffs.
Roberts and teammates piling up wins
Former Evans High basketball prospect Jaleel Roberts transferred to Greensboro Day School in North Carolina to finish his prep career.
His move is nothing new in basketball circles. There are numerous "basketball schools" that scour the summer circuit looking for potential standouts to add to their rosters. Roberts turned out to be one such player.
The 6-foot-10 center has generated plenty of attention on the recruiting trail despite modest production on the court. Roberts has made great strides each season and could one day become a professional prospect.
Roberts needs to add upper-body strength and continue to get better on the hardwood. By transferring to a prep school, he will have an extra year to do both.
This is perfect for someone in his position. With a little seasoning, he could turn out to be one of the top college prospects to hail from Columbia County -- in any sport.
So far this season, Roberts and his teammates are off to a great start. The Bengals are 8-0 and are outscoring opponents by 25 points per game. They have wins over highly regarded Oak Ridge Military Academy and Mount Zion Christian Academy. Each school features a roster loaded with prospects, and Mount Zion is the school that produced Tracy McGrady.
Through the first eight games, Roberts is averaging 5.1 points per contest, including a season-high 11 in a blowout win over River Mill Academy. More important, Roberts has done a good job defensively and on the glass. He is averaging more than eight rebounds per game and is easily the team's top shot blocker.
I would prefer to see Roberts suiting up for the Knights, but I am happy he is off to a good start this year. Hopefully, he will continue to work hard, and he could be playing in the SEC or ACC in a couple of years.