South Charlotte athletes play in BCS championship

South Charlotte football fans not rooting for Notre Dame or Alabama still had a reason to cheer during the BCS Championship football game Jan. 7. Three former south Charlotte players started in the national championship game, two on Notre Dame’s defense and one on Alabama’s offense.

Charlotte Christian graduate Matthias Farley started at safety for the Fighting Irish. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound sophomore had 6 tackles in the championship game, which Alabama won 42-14. He finished the season with 49 tackles and one interception in 11 starts.

Ardrey Kell graduate Prince Shembo started at outside linebacker for the Fighting Irish and had three tackles in the title game. Shembo, a 6-foot-2, 250-pound junior, started every game this year for Notre Dame and finished the season with 51 tackles and 7.5 sacks.

Providence Day graduate Kelly Johnson started at tight-end/H-back for Alabama. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior had one reception for five yards in the game. He finished with five catches for 39 yards on the season.

Three other former south Charlotte players were on one of the championship teams’ rosters. Freshmen Mark Harrell, an offensive lineman from Charlotte Catholic, and Romeo Okwara, an outside linebacker from Ardrey Kell, play for Notre Dame.

Independence High alumnus Ranzell Watkins is a junior defensive back for Alabama.

Alabama sophomore defensive back Vinnie Sunseri, who played at Marvin Ridge before transferring to Northridge (Ala.) High, started and had two tackles in the championship game. He finished the season with 54 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Hales named national coach of the year

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee named Butler High football coach Brian Hales as the 2013 Xenith National Coach of the Year.

Hales led the Bulldogs to an undefeated season and a N.C. High School Athletic Association 4AA state championship in his second year as head coach.

Hales will receive the Yoast Award, which is named after coach Bill Yoast, who along with Herman Boone was immortalized in the movie “Remember the Titans.”

Butler senior Peter Kalambayi played in the All-American Bowl Jan. 5. The Stanford recruit had one tackle in the game.

All-Americans

Butler’s Kalambayi was also named first-team All-American by MaxPreps.

Charlotte Catholic running back Elijah Hood, who led the Cougars to the state championship game, was named second-team All-American by MaxPreps. Hood was also named to MaxPreps’ Junior All-American first team.

Charlotte Christian tight end Jeb Blazevich was named second team Junior All-American.