The Big Three's Early Exit

Alex Ross had a rough season exit two weeks ago, but the most shocking early exit of the playoffs was given to the Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City, OK) Chargers. With four to six division one prospects in the senior class alone, the class 3A giants had very little opposition all year when it came to challenges throughout the year. However, Tulsa Cascia Hall did not have anything to fear and they simply handed stifled the Chargers on defense and controlled the ball enough on offense to keep the "Hall" from getting any real momentum. The Commandos of Cascia Hall defeated the Chargers 14-7 ending Barry Sanders and Sterling Shepard's pristine season.

People always want to make the argument that teams were looking past their opponents, for the next week or whatever. I don't buy it. Cascia was ready to play and stole the Chargers' golden ball aspirations just as they did four years ago, the year before this senior class entered high school. Heritage Hall appeared to not have any form of offense and the speed and great game planning overcame the Chargers' lead in athleticism and size.

Shepard came down with the Heritage Hall's only touchdown grab of the game of the game on a 25-yard fade to the back of the end zone. The team has to be totally disappointed because they returned nearly every starter or improved at the positions left open. They expected to win the championship, anything less has to be qualified as a failure for them.

Now the two stars on the team have to prepare themselves for the All-American games coming up in the next couple of weeks. Barry Sanders will be playing in the Army All-American bowl on January 7, 2012 at noon. He will be arriving in San Antonio, Texas on New Years' Day and spend a week preparing for the game and meeting many great members of the armed forces as well as some of the game's past great players. The Army All-American Bowl is probably the highest honor for a high school football player and Sanders will be the first from Heritage Hall to attend this game. The game can be seen on NBC.

Shepard will be in Florida for his own All American game. The Under Armor All-American game will take place January 5, 2012 at 7:30 and can be seen on ESPN. He will join Alex Ross as they represent the state of Oklahoma football and their University along with fellow Texan, cornerback Devante Harris from Mesquite Horn.