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November 25, 2009
Student-Athlete of the Week: Deontae Howard
Clairton
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What many people know is Clairton senior running back Deontae Howard has been among the best rushers in western Pennsylvania for the past few years. His efforts on the field have made the Bears (11-1) into a perennial WPIAL power and they are now on the brink of their third Class A championship in the last four seasons.
But what people may not know about Deontae is he is just as much of a difference-maker in the classroom as he is on the field. They may have heard that over the last two seasons, he has rushed for 3,503 yards and 55 touchdowns, but maybe not that he also has a 3.7 cumulative GPA with advanced placement classes.
(Deontae Howard with his mother, Brenda)
His coach, Tom Nola, could talk about his athleticism, speed, and drive to be successful on the field, but his teachers could also rave about how he is an intelligent, respectable young man with a good head on his shoulders and a promising future ahead of him. Channel 4 Action Sports anchor Guy Junker and our High School Playbook team visited Clairton to meet Deontae, and hear the story of this special young man that has overcome adversity to pursue success both in football and in life.
Deontae received this week's Clearview Student-Athlete of the Week award in front of the student body and faculty, as well as his grandmother, who adopted him 10 years ago. He told her about the assembly and that she should attend, but didn't tell her why, and she was totally surprised when she found out about the honor that was presented to him.
Also, Justin Talbert of Clearview Federal Credit Union presented Nola and the school with a check for $250.
Deontae rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 33-0 semifinal win over Laurel, getting revenge for their Week 1 loss to the Spartans. That performance followed a 203-yard, two-touchdown game in a win over Avonworth in the quarterfinals.
Among the schools interested in Deontae are the University of Cincinnati, the University of Maryland, Kent State University, and Towson University. They are all interested in him both athletically and academically; Towson has offered a full scholarship, including tuition, room and board, fees and books.
But before his journey to college commences, Deontae and the Bears have quite a task on their hands. They will defend their WPIAL title over the holiday weekend against top-seeded Rochester (12-0) and attempt to return to the PIAA championship game, where they fell last year, 35-16, to Steelton-Highspire.
But if history has taught us anything, whatever the challenge, we know that Deontae Howard is definitely up to it.
Previous Honorees:
- Jim Giansante, Thomas Jefferson
- Jimmy Zubik, Avonworth
- Jesse Della Valle, Shaler
- Matt McCann, Keystone Oaks
- Rushel Shell, Hopewell
- Alec Schram, Canon-McMillan
- Dom Timbers, Woodland Hills
- Christian Brumbaugh, South Fayette
- Wayne Capers, Jr., Chartiers Valley
- Damion Jones Moore, Central Catholic
- Orne Bey, Gateway
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