Mesmerizing Shoemate rising to the spotlight
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As DJ Shoemate gets healthier, it appears Servite is going to lean on him more and more. The USC-bound receiver/defensive lineman was all over the Orange Coast College field Friday during Servite’s 6-0 victory over Edison in a game pitting two teams in The Times’ top 10.
It looked as if Troy Thomas, Servite’s coach, wanted to make sure Shoemate had every opportunity to be the game-breaking player he can be.
Shoemate seemed to do it all:
- He caught six passes for 80 yards.
- He rushed 13 times for 59 yards.
- He blocked two punts.
- He sacked the quarterback.
He also scored the only touchdown of the game, a one-handed grab of Johnny McEntee’s pass to the flat, and then turned the corner and made it 12 yards to the end zone.
What did he remember about the TD?
‘I don’t remember it,’ he answered. ‘I’m, like, in a trance when I’m playing.’
That I can believe, because he played like a man possessed. Shoemate accounted for 139 of Servite’s 226 yards of offense and had 19 touches among the Friars’ 47 plays. Take away the six incomplete passes thrown by McEntee, and Shoemate touched the ball nearly half the time Servite executed.
Shoemate injured his foot in last year’s season-opener and missed the rest of his junior season.
‘I’m about 90%,’ he said, after giving 100% against the Chargers. ‘I’m feeling more comfortable week after week.
‘There’s always room for improvement. I don’t think I played my best game. I have to play a little more physical and focus in on doing my job.’
- Martin Henderson