East St. Louis (Ill.) wide receiver Christopher Bennett (3) runs with the football against Imhotep Charter (Pa.) in the football game played at the Germantown Supersite in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Joshua Guirguis/D2 Sports Network
PHILADELPHIA — East St. Louis High School football coach Darren Sunkett grew up about 5.1 miles away from Philadelphia in Camden, New Jersey.
On Saturday night, the Flyers swooped into the City of Brotherly Love to battle eastern Pennsylvania powerhouse Imhotep Charter at the Germantown Supersite. East St. Louis came away with a 35-14 victory behind a balanced offensive attack and a stifling defensive effort in the second half.
Running back and Lindenwood commit Larevious Woods rumbled into the end zone from 15 yards out to give the Flyers first lead of the night.
"It was important for us to set the tone tonight," Woods said. "Me personally, I just like to run hard. I had a hole on my first touchdown run of the night and I just followed that opening to the end zone."
Penn State commit Jabree Wallace-Coleman immediately answered with a touchdown of his own for the Panthers on the following drive. He bounced off multiple tacklers en route to pay dirt.
East St. Louis looked primed to hop in the driver's seat as time withered in the first quarter, until Imhotep's Willie Norris had a tipped pass fall into his lap for an interception in the end zone. He returned the pick to his team’s 17-yard line.
In the waning moments of the first half, the Flyers put together a productive drive that resulted in a touchdown pass from Kendrick Lyons to Kortez Rupert. East St. Louis led 14-7 at intermission.
Imhotep Charter fired on all cylinders after the break as its first drive of the second half resulted in a touchdown pass from Joey McLeish to Zah Pollard. The score was tied at 14-14 and gave the Panthers momentum.
With favorable field position on East St. Louis' side, the Flyers capitalized as Lyons tossed his second touchdown to Christopher Bennett. Bennett pulled off a tightrope act and dodged tacklers on his way into the end zone.
Lyons, a senior, finished 16-for-25 passing for 186 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Bennett tallied nine catches for 87 yards and a score.
East St. Louis’ defense forced a punt on each of Imhotep’s remaining drives except for one.
The exception?
A 46-yard pick-six by sophomore Raheem Floyd and a second score by Woods put the contest out of reach.
"We knew they had to pass in that situation," Floyd said. "The coaches called the perfect coverage, I played my assignment, made a play on the ball, and then I just took it to the house. It's my first pick so it felt great to take it to the house."
The Flyers arrived in Camden, New Jersey earlier in the week and were immediately met with open arms by the Camden High School football program. Panthers coach Rob Hinson and his program welcomed Sunkett back to his alma mater and allowed the Flyers to use Camden’s facilities to prepare for the marquee matchup.
"It felt so good to be back here," Sunkett said. "I'm so thankful for all of the people from back home in Camden that came out to support my guys tonight. It's truly something i'm grateful for.
"Getting the win makes everything better because we came out and handled business. I hope to come back here next year or possibly partake in the Battle at the Beach event in Ocean City that South Jersey has."
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