Sports
Upper Marlboro Duo Commits to James Madison University
Uriah Bethea and Zachary Pascal have full athletic scholarships.
In less than a month, the football team at Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School will hit the gridiron to prepare for the 2011-12 season. However, two athletes from the Upper Marlboro school have already decided on their college destination.
Uriah Bethea and Zachary Pascal have both decided to attend James Madison University on a full athletic scholarship.
“I guess they like Wise football players,” Wise head coach DaLawn Parrish said about James Madison. “It’s the third year in a row they got somebody.”
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James Madison also boasts former Wise standouts Anthony McDaniel and DeAndre Smith. McDaniel is a redshirt freshman defensive lineman and Smith is a freshman defensive back who graduated from the Upper Marlboro school earlier this year.
The trio of Bethea, Pascal and Smith was instrumental in Wise’s 2010 campaign as the Pumas finished 12-2 overall, including 9-1 in the conference. As a junior, Bethea rushed for nearly 1,700 yards and scored 24 touchdowns, leading the Pumas to their second consecutive 4A state title game appearance.
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“I expect him to have a big year,” Parrish said. “He understands our offensive sets, he understands our blocking schemes. I look forward to another big year [from Bethea].”
Bethea also received a scholarship offer from Towson and Pascal received an offer from Bryant. Both decided to accept James Madison’s offer on the same day.
“They have great academics [and] it’s close to home,” said Parrish, who noted that the James Madison “coaching staff is always at our school.”
Parrish compared Bethea to former NFL running back Marcus Allen.
“Uriah is an excellent runner,” he said. “He reads the hole [and] he cuts back very well.”
Meanwhile, Parrish described Pascal, a wide receiver, as a tall kid with big hands who runs great routes.
“It’s just tremendous for Zach that he got this opportunity,” said Parrish.
The head coach also revealed that rising senior Tre Smith has received offers from Youngstown State, Hampton and North Carolina Central.