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Jalen Hurts beats North Shore to set career in motion
SUPER BOWL LVII: Hurts "Normal kid with different dreams"
Well, a few blocks over is Channelview High – right in the industrial-plex of Houston. The Falcons aren’t a high school football power. In fact, Channelview hasn’t won a playoff game in 30 years.
But in early October of 2014, a star was born.
Channelview had never beaten North Shore… ever. Older brother Averion Hurts Jr. (passing game coordinator at Summer Creek) couldn’t do it prior to Jalen, and it took a 38-yard Hail Mary with no time left to beat the “Beasts of the East” 49-48 in an instant classic. A legacy was cemented and Hurts' future was set in motion.
“He was a heck of a football player. He just made stuff happen. When he threw that Hail Mary to beat us when he was a junior, I’ll never forget it,” Kay said. “He’s done that his whole career, though. People didn’t think he could do it at Alabama… he did. Then he goes to Oklahoma and people thought… maybe other quarterbacks were catching up to him. Then he stars at OU and finishes second in the Heisman Trophy voting. Surely, the league (NFL) will be the great separator? Now, he’s in the Super Bowl.”
That game would put Hurts at the epicenter of the recruiting radar for 2015. Recruiting analysts would have to Mapquest where Channelview High School was to come witness the next big thing in the Bayou City.
“Channelview had always been a program that stuggled for playoff appearances and big wins,” 247Sports Recruiting Analyst Brian Perroni said. “Jalen was just plain special that night. He showed he could lead the big underdogs to a huge win with his arm and legs against North Shore. That win got a lot of eyes on him from a recruiting standpoint.”
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Channelview coach Averion Hurts is a soft-spoken leader, who believes in hard work and being a good teammate. No frills, just old school. Quiet. His words very measured.
Makes sense. That’s where Jalen Hurts gets his ‘head-down”, laser-focused mindset from. It’s also where he gets his “team first” philosophy… see his time at Alabama.
“He’s been through some growing pains during his career, but all of those adversities have made him better as a player and stronger as a man,” Hurts said. “Look, he was just a normal kid growing up. He just had different dreams. Once he figured out what he wanted to do, he worked for it. That’s just always been him, very determined.”
As a freshman at Alabama, Hurts was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year – but fell 35-31 in the National Championship Game against Clemson. He would lead the Tide to the 2018 Title Game against Georgia, where he would be pulled for Tua Tagovailoa. Alabama won 26-23. He was the back-up for much of 2018 as Bama would fall to Clemson again in the 2019 Title Game.
Off the Oklahoma went Hurts with his workmanlike attitude and winning persona. He would lead the Sooners to the College Football, eventually losing to LSU in the semis. He finished second to LSU's Joe Burrow for the Heisman Trophy.
Jalen would be drafted by Philadelphia in the second round with the 53rd overall pick. He was named the starter late in the season for coach Doug Pederson, who would be fired at the end of the season.
Hurts would lead the Eagles to the playoffs last season under the direction of coach Nick Sirianni, before falling to Tampa Bay in the Wild Card Round.
This season has been a storybook for the Channelview Falcon, finishing as one of five finalists for the NFL MVP Award.
So, what’s been the difference?
“I just wanted to see what he could do in the same offense for two years,” Averion said. “With the same people. He hasn’t had the same play-caller for two years since he played in high school. When everything from the neck up slows down, everything else speeds up for you as quarterback. If you are having to learn a new system every year, you are not gonna get that natural next step. With this second year, you are able to add stuff to a foundation you have already built. The game seems a lot easier. You know where to go with the ball. You know where the reads are. You are just maturing in the position, basically.”
As the Eastside of Houston roots on one of their own, the Hurts family will head to Glendale, Arizona to the Super Bowl.
“He is really proud of the fact that he has been able to bring us and his grandparents along for the ride,” Averion said. “We have enjoyed the heck out of it.”
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Channelview hasn’t beaten North Shore since that magical night in 2014. The night that Jalen Hurts, became “Jalen Hurts”. His legacy lives on as he continues to represent Houston’s #Eastside in the sport's biggest game of the year.
“The Hail Mary is not a fond memory for me because he beat us,” said North Shore’s Kay. “My fondest memory had to have been at the district track meet that Spring, though. The 4x100-relay was being held up, I was told, by a shot putter. I thought they were joking… a shot putter in a sprint relay? It was Jalen Hurts. He won the meet in the shot and came over and ran the relay.
"From an outsider, you could see he did everything through hard work and class. What a great, respectful young man. His father taught him well.”
District 21-6A Headlined by State Title Game Participants
VYPE Preseason Rankings
North Shore
Beaumont West Brook
Channelview
C.E. King
La Porte
Deer Park
Beaumont United
Baytown Sterling
(Bold Denotes Playoff Teams)
VYPE Preseason Awards
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Zach Evans, North Shore
OFFENSIVE MVP Dematrius Davis, North Shore
DEFENSIVE MVP Jay Bell, Beaumont West Brook
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR Alton Lott, Channelview
SLEEPER TEAM La Porte
Beaumont West Brook's Fredrick Jones, Cole Maloy, Thaddeus Johnson, Joey Pierre, Tay Coleman, Jay Bell and Troy Yowman
North Shore Mustangs
Jon Kay guided the "Beasts of the East" to the program's second state crown in the previous three seasons in 2018 with a perfect 16-0 mark and an unforgettable win against Duncanville. But now the page has turned to the next season. But what is coming back is impressive. Dematrius Davis is back at quarterback for his junior season. Davis passed for 3,373 yards and 43 touchdowns, while his top target Shadrach Banks reeled in 60 grabs for 1,299 yards and 17 touchdowns. Zach Evans returns to anchor the backfield as the top recruit of the 2020 class. Evans rushed for 1,793 yards and 29 scores a year ago. The list goes on and on, including Alabama-commit Damieon George and the new additions of Jaeden Roberts and Edzavier Deblaw on the offensive line and Arkansas pledge John Gentry joining Evans in the backfield. Defensively, Kansas State-commit Jojo Wilson and Utah State-commit Upton Stout will hold down the secondary, while Miami commit Corey Flagg Jr. will anchor at linebacker.
Beaumont West Brook Bruins
West Brook reached the final game of the year and fell to Longview in an instant classic. The Bruins are back but will have to replace dual-threat quarterback La'Ravien Elia, who had 280 total yards (136 rushing, 144 passing) in the title game. Third-year coach Eric Peevey will look for Troy Yowman to take over his spot. Yowman went 4-0 as a starter last season and has a cannon of an arm, which can be a good and bad thing at times. His top target will be Thad Johnson (1,200 yards receiving). Others to watch on offense include running back Jakobi Holland (676 yards rushing), who Peevey thinks will have a breakout year. Offensive lineman Fred Jones started at center and left tackle a year ago to anchor the line. On defense, first-team, alldistrict selection Jay Bell will anchor the line along with second-teamer Markel Clark, who had 12 sacks a year ago. Peevey believes seniors Dekyrie Richard, Natea Coleman and super-sophomore Bryce Anderson could make names for themselves in the secondary. Other key returners for West Brook include linebackers Cole Maloy and Desmond Jackson.
Channelview Falcons
Channelview has punched its ticket to the big dance in three of the last four seasons. Expect the Falcons to be back there again. Averion Hurts enters his 14th season leading the program and will lean on second-team, all-district back Alton Lott to lead the offense. Lott rushed for 1,017 yards and eight scores a year ago and returns as the leading rusher in District 21-6A. Another key piece to the offense will be receiver Trevon Chandler. Making room for Lott up front will be first team, all-district lineman Paula Vaipulu. Defensively, the Falcons will be led by free safety Zion Webb, cornerback Isaiah Hamilton, linebacker Albert Garcia and defensive end Caleb Molina.
C.E. King Panthers
For the first time since being propelled into the UIL's highest classification in 2016, C.E. King made the playoffs last year. The Panthers are gaining steam on the east side, including opening its brand-new stadium for the 2019 season. Derek Fitzhenry enters his third season at the helm and has some big spots to fill, especially in the backfield. Rodrick Crummedy (1,523 yards, 15 TDs) and Ulysses Bentley (SMU-signee with 1,211 yards, 17 TDs) are both gone to graduation. So, who fills in their shoes? Look towards first-team, all-district running back Malique Harris and second-teamer Jeremy Gonzales. Also, back on offense will be Van Wells at tight end. Those are the three lone starters back on offense, but the good thing for the Panthers is six starters are back on defense. Included in that group is national free safety recruit Bryson Washington. Washington is a five-star recruit and an all-state selection. Also, back is DI defensive ends Jessie Evans and Jason Watson. Other key returners on defense include cornerback Josiah Ruano and linebacker Tyler Scyrus.
La Porte Bulldogs
La Porte was just on the outside looking in last season for the final playoff spot in District 21-6A. With what the Bulldogs have coming back, La Porte could potentially contend for it. La Porte, who is now under the direction of first-time coach Anthony Renfro from Clear Springs, brings back some key pieces including quarterback River Thompson. Last season, Thompson passed for 1,047 yards and five scores. He will have to take better care of the football in 2019 after throwing 11 interceptions in 2018. Other key returners include wide receivers Elijah George, Nathan Davila and tight end/defensive end Albert Regis, who was named the District 21-6A Sophomore of the Year. Also, back is linebackers Jordan Morales and Eric Bright and defensive lineman Agave Flores.
Deer Park Deer
Deer Park has a lot to replace off a team that just missed the playoffs last year. Broc Weidner is gone to graduation, so the Deer will have to find someone to replace his 1,176 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air. Marcus Molina will be a player to watch as he comes back after recording 437 receiving yards and five scores and 496 yards on the ground and six scores. The biggest improvement for Deer Park heading into 2019 will have to come on the defensive side of the ball after ranking last in the district, giving up 445.7 yards and 39.9 points per game.
Beaumont United Timberwolves
Beaumont United is a very intriguing program heading into this season, considering this is the second year since this school formed with students from Beaumont Ozen and Beaumont Central. The Timberwolves will have to get creative on offense this year after averaging a district-worst 191.7 yards per game. The good thing for United was that it boasted the third-best defensive unit behind North Shore and West Brook. Devin Hunt will be one to watch on offense after having 301 yards receiving and three scores last year. Another key returner includes Dezmond Spencer, who can do some damage in the kick return game.
Baytown Sterling Rangers
Finally, Baytown Sterling will be looking to notch a win inside district play this season. The Rangers will have to find a replacement for graduated running back Calvin Hill, who rushed for 987 yards and 10 scores a year ago. Players to watch this season include athlete EJ Hawkins (400 yards rushing, 200 yards passing, 170 yards receiving) and Tayvion Haggerty on defense. Jacob Landry at quarterback could be a surprise of the year in this district. Other players to watch include KJ Watch, Amari Jackson, Trinity Olive, Shawn Jackson and Micah Campbell. The Rangers will have to be "All Hands On Deck" – which is their season motto – with big pieces to replace.