Since 2000, DeMatha Catholic High School has won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship 12 times, including one stretch of six-in-a-row, and another of four-straight. After going 6-5 last season, and losing in the first round of the playoffs, the DeMatha Stags are back in the WCAC Championship game, and they're best players are putting on a show.
Four-star safety DeMarcco Hellams had offers from numerous Power 5 football programs, including Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee and FBS Independent powerhouse Notre Dame. None of them landed Hellams, because there's only one school he felt offered the best path to the NFL, and the shot a few more championships like he's chased at DeMatha.
The Alabama Crimson Tide locked down Hellams back in June, and the third-ranked player in Maryland according to 247Sports has yet to disappoint during his senior season.
In DeMatha's 30-14 win over Our Lady of Good Counsel, Hellams broke the bank and contributed in every aspect of the game. He caught two touchdowns (44 and 70 yards), tallied over 100 yards receiving on the night, managed to intercept two passes, and blocked a punt that sailed out of the end zone for a safety.
It's hard to miss a performance like this when that blue and white No. 1 dominates the entire field.
RELATED: Former DeMatha Lineman Dies After Jumping From 16th Floor Window
The four-star prospect and top-100 player nationally will be a defensive back when he gets to Tuscaloosa despite earning First-Team All-WCAC as a wide receiver his junior season. He'll likely take home back-to-back honors on the D.C. metro area conference's top billing after this season before bringing his incredible athletic talent to Nick Saban's defense in 2019.
"I picked Alabama because they have a tradition of producing great DBs — that's what I'm going there for — and great players. They have a great culture down there, [with] accountability and guys holding themselves to a higher standard." — DeMarcco Hellams, via AL.com
DeMatha takes on Gonzaga in the WCAC title game on November 16, and it'll be a familiar foe opposite the team — These two played a triple-overtime thriller earlier this season in which DeMatha came out on top, winning 27-21.
Who secured the game-winning interception in the end zone to seal DeMatha's win? DeMarcco Hellams, of course.
If you think Hellams is fine with one electric performance, think again. This kid in Hyattsville, Maryland has championship aspirations, and his time with head coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide should bring him exactly what he's looking for.
