There was no doubt about this: Shulby immensely enjoyed himself Saturday, like always during his interactions with the Florida-bound Thompson and the Vikings, who rolled to a 49-0 triumph over Murrell Dobbins Tech for the Class AAA City Title.
Shulby, who has Down syndrome, became Thompson's friend 4 years ago, when the two were eighth-graders at Doylestown's Holicong Middle School. For 3 years, as part of a program called Athletes Helping Athletes, Inc., Shulby has been a Vikings fixture.
In his No. 99 jersey, John always accompanies Colin and the other captains (Joey Monaghan, Desmon Peoples, Kyle Adkins) to midfield for the coin toss, then rallies/entertains the troops throughout.
Colin said John even comes to Wood for Friday walk-throughs and knows the team's inner workings so well, "He could probably call a play, if he had to."
A pass to Colin, no doubt.
Hey, that's how this game began and the result was a 46-yard gain. Another pass followed, and then another, and another, and another and . . . geez, had Devlin spent the week hobknobbing with Andy Reid?
By the time the starting skill guys called it an afternoon shortly before halftime, with the bulge at 42-0, first-cousin rushing stalwarts Desmon (Rutgers) and Brandon (Temple) Peoples owned a total of one carry, a 21-yarder for Brandon.
Monaghan, meanwhile, had passed 12-for-14 for 199 yards and four touchdowns; the first two to Adkins and then one apiece to Nate Smith (West Virginia) and Thompson.
"We never talked about throwing a lot today," Thompson said. "Coach Devlin just said we'd come out really looking to move the ball. We run the ball a lot, so to come out passing so much was a big surprise. That was fun. We have a lot of receiving weapons, and Joey was spreading the ball around."
Just then, Dobbins lineman Kareem Jefferson walked over, enthusiastically congratulated Thompson on his strong performance and said, "Let me get a picture with this guy."
