Senior Bowl marks reunion for Shabazz, VASJ contingent

The practices this week leading to The News-Herald Senior Bowl at Mayfield are a reunion in one sense — with shoulder pads and helmets after winters and springs venturing into other sports for many athletes.

For Euclid’s Aubrey Shabazz and the Villa Angela-St. Joseph contingent on the White team, though, is really is a reunion.

Shabazz will get the opportunity to play with several of his former VASJ teammates, including wide receiver Chris Boykin, lineman Pat Sheridan and quarterback Delanoe Harris, after transferring to play for the Panthers as a senior.

“It’s been fun,” Shabazz said after practice June 11. “It’s cool hanging out with them again. I hang with them at every Joe’s function and stuff.

“I’m glad to see there aren’t any hard feelings for the decision I made last year.”

Shabazz threw for 13 touchdowns for Euclid in the regular season this past fall. He also had a memorable performance at QB in place of injured Cee Jay Hale in a 33-28 win over Solon, scoring the eventual winning TD on a run.

The Panthers went 9-3, with a Division I regional quarterfinal win over Massillon Jackson before bowing out to St. Ignatius.

“It was fun to go watch him play, see one of my brothers doing really good — shining,” Boykin said. “It was a good time.”

As is reconnecting one last time as high school players.

Shabazz smiled when it was pointed out the full-circle journey football can be, going from youth players to high school. He said he and Euclid teammate, wide receiver Jovan Owens, played together at the youth level, and some of the faces he’s seeing this week are familiar as opponents from that level way back when.

“It’s sweet. I like it,” Shabazz said. “They were really good back then and continuing through high school. It’ll be fun to see how we match up Friday against the (Blue) team.”

One noted advantage as that process plays out will be QB-to-receiver chemistry. Players may go to different places throughout their gridiron journey, but that day-after-day repetition of fine-tuning routes and timing never goes away.

“Me and Chris, we throw a lot actually,” Shabazz said. “I’m glad it didn’t mess up. There is still that connection. Me and Jovan, we’ve still got that connection. It’s nice to see that.”

Added Boykin: “We’re clicking like we never left. It’s pretty good to be back with him.”

Being back out can mean shaking off some football rust. Boykin, for example, competes in track and field for the Vikings during the spring.

“Track is just running straight,” Boykin said with a laugh. “Out here on the field, you’ve got to do a bunch of different cuts, different routes. But it’s feeling good. I feel like I’m back. I’m ready.”

Sheridan is ready after recently returning from playing on an American all-star team for a game in Italy.

“We beat them, 76-0,” Sheridan said.

That kind of scoreline is unlikely to happen in the Senior Bowl, of course, but Sheridan knows his former and once-more teammate Shabazz can play a big role.

“We had a lot of plays with him two years ago,” Sheridan said. “It’s pretty exciting to be back with him.”

One thing Shabazz knows for sure is he doesn’t want to go out with a loss.

After the Panthers fell to St. Ignatius, Shabazz admitted it took a while to get over that lament.

“It’s tough, especially as a senior,” Shabazz said. “Going out that last game, I was crying — I was depressed for like a month. But I’m glad to be back out here because I love to play football. I’m happy to be back out.”

Back out for a reunion and, hopefully, a win this weekend as teammates one more time.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Boykin said. “I know a bunch of the players on the Blue team, and we’ve been texting back and forth.

“Out here, we’re having a ball at practice. I’m ready. Friday is just too far away now.”