DC Metro Sports - Deontay Twyman - Sherwood Warrior by Day, Legend on Friday Nights

Written by Wendall Stevens
Friday, 23 March 2007
Lets start with the statistics. During a three-year career as the starting quarterback for the Sherwood Warriors in Sandy Springs, MD Deontay Twyman passed for a shade under 7,000 yards and 80 touchdowns. During his senior year alone he threw for 2,342 yards and 26 touchdowns. He ran the ball for 366 yards and scored 10 TDs. Twyman lead his team to two state football title appearances and left a trail of destruction among opposing defenses. Twyman owned Friday nights in Montgomery County, Md and although his football career has passed he will never be forgotten. The legend of Deontay Twyman began in the eighth grade playing Pop Warner football where he led his then team to the national championship. Coach Allen Thomas began hearing about this kid during this time. Twyman started for the Warriors in the tenth grade. Twyman at 14 was the leader of the varsity high school team. He stood 5"7" and weighed in at a sinewy 128 pounds but possessed what Coach Al Thomas described as a "cannon of an arm." Coach Thomas then proceeded to construct an offensive scheme that would protect his slight of build Twyman by lining him up in the shotgun position and putting together a running offense. What Thomas discovered however after watching film was that to give the Warriors the best chance, the solution was to actually let Twyman improvise, to allow him to make things happen on his own. With this philosophy in place and Tywman's natural athletic talent let loose, the Warriors began to win. Incredibly, Thomas mentions that Twyman hasn't missed but one play on offense despite his size and the physical abilities of rival athletes in Montgomery County like Damascus and Northwest. The real question was how could an athlete who upon first glance doesn't pass the eye test be such a force in a rugged game like big time high school football? Athletic Director Bob Cilento said it best, "Deontay has abilities you just can't coach. He has an uncanny ability to anticipate situations on the field. You can give him a play and bam he understands what to do. Combine those instincts with a cannon of an arm and you have a perfect storm of a player. He's hard to handle. I'd put him up against anybody." The next question would have to be then, why would such an accomplished athlete get so few offers from schools? Coach Thomas mentions that Twyman doesn't have blazing straight line speed and prototypical size for a Division I quarterback that coaches look at but "they're missing out on one heck of a player." Thomas goes on to mention that Twyman still has room to grow and while still only 17 hasn't reached anywhere near his physical maturity level. Twyman lead his team to the AAAA championship game in 2005 but the Warriorslost to Damascus. Twyman marched them right back in 2006 where in the playoffs hemay have cemented his legend with a one man show stopper against the powerful Jaguarsof Northwest. The Warriors did advance to the AAAA title game but lost a heartbreaker to the Suitland Rams in overtime but that didn't dampen the heroics of one special football player. Did I mention he had a hobby? That would be basketball. Oh yeah, he's the point guard on the Warrior basketball team and averaged around 16 points and 7 assists this year while leading his team to the state AAAA championship over Magruder despite not even picking up a basketball until after football season. Where will it all stop for Twyman? After initially fielding offers for basketball after the season it still up in the air. Football is really his passion. The next stop appears to be prep school or junior college where he has several opportunities. The most glowing endorsement of Twyman came from his coach and AD. Both of whom say what a fine young man Twyman is. "He is just a great kid and he deserves everything he has worked for because he has earned it." No matter what the future holds for one Deontay Twyman, for sure he will be remembered as one of the state of Maryland’s finest high school legends. To see images of Deontay Twyman go to DCMetrosports.com/prepsportgallery

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