Suitland speedster has DI wheels

Fortunately or unfortunately, Levern Jacobs ' high school football career will likely be remembered for one play. At Suitland, where Jacobs attends school, they call the play "The Catch." But at C.H. Flowers, the school opposing Suitland on Oct. 10, 2009, they call the play "The Botched Call."

Here's what happened:

Suitland and Flowers, two of the top teams in Prince George's County, were engaged in a classic dogfight. At the end of regulation the score was tied at 14. Flowers got the ball on the first overtime possession and scored a touchdown to make it 20-14 (they failed the two-point conversion).

Suitland needed a touchdown to tie.

On first down, Rams quarterback Devonte Lindsey called a quick slant to junior receiver Levern Jacobs, who had already burned the Flowers secondary for 124 yards on four receptions. Lindsey took a quick three-step drop, looked left and fired a chest-high pass at his short, lanky receiver.

But Jacobs and a Flowers defender became entangled in the end zone, practically knocking each other out of the play. A second Flowers defender took the initiative. He jumped in and reached for the interception. But the ball bounced off his hands and fluttered through the air like a dying quail.

As the ball descended, Jacobs reached out and snared it right before it hit the ground … or so the referees said.

"I focused on the ball and it landed in my hands," Jacobs said. "That was probably the most memorable catch I've made in my career."

After the extra point, Suitland escaped with a 21-20 victory.

But not without controversy. Flowers players and coaches said Jacobs' touchdown catch wasn't a catch at all. It hit the ground they implored.

There's no instant replay in high school football, so their gripes fell on deaf ears. After the game, however, a photographer from the Washington Post captured a shot that seemed to support the Flowers point of view.

Jacobs and Suitland, however, insist the catch was clean.

"People said I didn't catch it but I did," Jacobs said. "I'm sure of it."

Rams coach Ed Shields concurs, adding this little caveat:

"He was actually interfered with on that play," Shields said. "The Flowers defender kind of locked him up a little bit. But Levern still made a great play.

"He's always making great plays," Shields added.

And that's the truth … even if the catch wasn't.

Take away that one catch and Jacobs still had a tremendous junior season filled with touchdowns, long pass plays and backbreaking kick returns. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound junior with 4.45 40-yard dash speed and hands so sure they make Stickum look like Scotch tape hauled in 33 passes for close to 700 yards and six touchdowns.

"He can really go get the ball," Shields said. "When you don't think he's going to get it he catches up and makes a play."

In his sophomore year Jacobs went up against Eleanor Roosevelt's top cover man, Stephon Morris. Morris, a diminutive speedster who is now at Penn State, played Jacobs tight. Jacobs gave him one move, sidestepped to the outside and beat him down the sideline. The Suitland quarterback heaved up a deep bomb. Jacobs ran under it and corralled the long toss.

"He's just fast," Shields said. "I mean, some people are fast, and then there are others who are fast."

Apparently speed runs (pun intended) in the Jacobs family. Levern's younger brother, Tavon, is a rising sophomore at Suitland with a chance to play varsity next year. He's still a raw route runner but his speed is already approaching Devin Hester territory. Shields suggests that Tavon might even be a little faster than Levern.

"Nah, he's not faster than me," the elder Jacobs insists. "He could be if he keeps working at it but not now. … I'm still better."

Nothing like a bit of brotherly banter for motivation. Of course, Levern is more apt to engage an opposing cornerback in a war of words. On the field, Jacobs' mouth has been known to spew more junk than Richard Pryor and Chris Rock combined.

"I tell those cornerbacks they don't have a shot -- they can't catch me," Jacobs said. "I tell them I'll be waiting for them in the end zone."

Jacobs' mouth started running before the season even began. In a summer 7-on-7 event, he matched up against Good Counsel cornerback Louis Young, the top-rated defensive back in Maryland. Jacobs looked across at the Stanford-bound corner and began his verbal tirade.

"He was getting a little mad," Jacobs said. "I can get under a guy's skin."

Jacobs didn't exactly light Young up, but the point is clear: He won't back down from anyone.

After one season on jayvee, Jacobs tried out for varsity in 10th grade. Suitland boasted a glut of stronger, taller skill players, so his chances of making the team were remote. But Jacobs competed hard and the coaches loved his spirit.

"He didn't back down from any of the varsity players," Shields said. "He kept getting hit, but he kept popping right up and going at it. He's a tough kid."

Jacobs said he wouldn't let anyone keep him from making varsity.

"I wasn't intimidated because I never sat on the bench before in my life," he said. "So in 10th grade I said I'm going to start here too. I went out and competed and earned a spot."

Jacobs worked his way into the wide receiver rotation. He showed enough promise as a sophomore to be dubbed the No. 1 wide out last year. He responded with team-leading totals in receptions, yards and touchdowns.

This year, Jacobs is thinking All-State.

"I want to catch 50 passes for 900 yards and like 12 touchdowns," Jacobs deadpanned. "I'm working out and I'm running track to get faster and stronger. I'm working on my route running, too. I'll be ready to break out next year."

A breakout 2010 could be his ticket to college football. Already a couple Division I schools are intrigued by his speed and hands, according to Shields. Rutgers and Connecticut have expressed interest and Maryland watched him run recently as well.

"His height and weight may hurt him a little on the DI level, but sometimes they overlook that if you've got speed," Shields said. "He definitely has that going for him."

The speed to reach DI? That's a prospect that might just trump The Catch.