Suffolk players in all-star game
Published 10:39 pm Friday, December 8, 2017
Four players from Suffolk will participate in the annual I-64 Bowl All-Star Game.
Though the football season is over for all of Suffolk’s schools, a few more seniors will get a chance to step on the field for one last time this season. King’s Fork High School will be represented by Darran Butts, T.J. Hart and Cherrod Joe, while DeAndre Faulk will represent Lakeland High School. All will be a part of Team 757 in the I-64 Bowl Game against Team 804.
The game will be held next at 2 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. Admission costs $10.
The game will feature the most prominent senior talent from the 757 area and the 804 area. Team 804 is the reigning champion.
Lakeland High School’s DeAndre Faulk was selected to play in the I-64 Bowl Game on Dec. 16 at Virginia Beach Sportsplex. He will be joined by King’s Fork High School’s Darran Butts, Cherrod Joe and T.J. Hart.
All four Suffolk participants have had accomplished senior seasons.
Faulk, a team captain at Lakeland, helped the Cavs both on offense and defense. He was a first team all-district and all-region selection at linebacker and was an all-state selection at linebacker during his junior season. The senior Cav also holds multiple offers from NCAA Division I schools.
“I am looking to get this big win over the 804,” Faulk said. “I am honored to represent my school and my city. I am going to put on for the 757.”
Butts had one of the best seasons for a Suffolk athlete regarding accolades. He was selected as the Southeastern District Player of the Year and was also chosen the Class 4 Region A Offensive Player of the Year. He finished his senior season at King’s Fork with more than 1,800 yards of offense and 25-plus touchdowns.
The senior Bulldog is glad to get the opportunity to play with his teammates again and be among the elite in the area.
“It is amazing. I am just glad I am able to play with those guys,” Butts said. “Everybody on the All-Star team is good, and just like at practice, you have to compete and do what’s best to win.”
Joe was a first-team Southeastern District selection at wide receiver and has put up big numbers at King’s Fork. In his junior season, he set the school record for the most receiving yards in a single season. He returned to lead the Bulldogs in receiving once again this year. The region took notice by also choosing Joe as a first-team all-region wide receiver.
“It is a blessing to be able to play another high school game with my brothers,” Joe said. “It was a great year for us as a team. We beat the odds. Nobody thought we would do the things we did.”
Hart also made his impact on the King’s Fork football program. During his junior year, he set a school record with 11 interceptions, which led to him being the only Bulldog named all-state. This season, he played between linebacker and defensive back. Because of his strong senior campaign, he was named a first-team Southeastern District defensive back and a second-team all-region defensive back.
All of the players want to use the opportunity to play in the game to meet new people and players. They all spoke of how highly talented Hampton Roads is and are hoping to represent the 757 in the best way possible.
