PASSING ALONG some city high school football tidbits...
Just 2 years ago, in his first year of organized football, Stanley Baylis was an offensive lineman for the Nicetown Titans' youth squad.
Friday night, he justified his childhood nickname.
Baylis, a 5-10, 160-pound senior wideout, broke the Public League record for receiving yards in a game - 224, on just four catches - as Gratz dumped visiting Communications Tech, 42-6.
He caught an 85-yarder from Montrel Stewart (tackled at 5) and a 95-yarder (for a score) from Khalil Brown (the QBs rotated) in addition to tosses worth 23 and 21.
"I played o-line for Nicetown because they needed help there," he said. "When I signed up for Gratz last year, I told the coach [Eric Zipay] I played wideout and he said, 'OK, we'll give you a shot.' From there I just did my best. I always caught lots of passes in [street/playground] football. They called me 'Little TO.'"
Rich Drayton, now his alma mater's first-year coach, totaled 213 yards on seven catches as Central bombarded Northeast, 60-3, on Thanksgiving morning 1986, and quarterback Mike Roche set the still-standing city mark for passing yardage (409).
"I knew I was doing a lot of running and piling up yards, but I didn't think I was breaking any records," Baylis said. "The offensive line was great. Really stepped up.
"I was a little mad about not getting [the 90-yarder], but I kind of expected to be caught. I was doing a lot of running at free safety, too."
Baylis attends Engineering and Science and plays for Gratz as part of a cooperative sponsorship (as does star lineman Tamaric Richardson). It works out great because he lives on Sydenham Street, within footsteps of Gratz' stadium.
"We always played around over there," he said. "I caught lots of passes...Montrel, Khalil and I were on Nicetown together, too, so we all get along."
