Belen sophomore running back Chaney Jr. scores five TDs in win over Braddock
Even though he still has plenty of high school football still in front of him, Belen Jesuit running back Don Chaney Jr. is slowly but surely starting to become the worst-kept-secret in the recruiting world.
Despite only being a sophomore, the major college offers are now starting to come flowing in from everywhere, and Chaney Jr. once again proved why on Friday afternoon.
He scored five of his team’s six touchdowns to help lead the Wolverines to an important 44-24 win over Braddock in a key District 15-8A contest at Belen in a game marred by a total of 34 penalties (18 by Braddock and 14 by Belen).
The Wolverines are now 4-2 overall but 3-0 in the district and now in control of what they hope will be a first-place finish and automatic playoff entry.
Braddock fell to 2-4, 1-2.
Chaney Jr, who grew up playing his youth ball at Harris Field in Homestead and the Kendall Coast League and arrived at the school three years ago as a seventh-grader, finished with 135 yards on 18 carries and the five scores.
He confirmed after the game that he has 15 offers from schools, including the University of Miami, Florida State, Florida and Notre Dame and that list is growing rapidly.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had five touchdowns in one game, so today was great because this was an important game and I was able to help my team come out on top,” said Chaney Jr., who said he will wait at least until the start of his senior year or after his senior season before he makes any final college decisions. “It’s not going to be that challenging to stay focused on my school and football because my dad, my coaches, my family, they’re always reminding me, keep a perfect state of mind.
“Be smart in what you’re doing, worry about what you’re doing now and is right in front of you and the other things will take care of themselves later on.”
Four of Chaney Jr.’s scoring runs were from 2, 4, 9 and 21 yards out. But where his talent really came oozing to the surface came just before halftime.
That’s when he took a handoff and broke out wide right and Braddock defenders had the easy angle on him to knock him out of bounds.
But he shifted into fourth gear and flew right around them, bolting down the sidelines for a 65-yard score to put Belen up 28-10 at the half.
“He’s amazing, I mean that kid is gold and I”m not even talking about as a player, I’m talking about as a person,” said first year Belen head coach Eddie Delgado. “For all the attention he gets, he’s as humble as a kid could be. He’s a great teammate and does everything like everybody else. You would never know being around him that he’s as hyped as he is. He’s loyal, humble and in this day in age, it’s hard to find those types of kids. We’re thrilled he’s part of the Belen family.”
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
▪ Riviera Preparatory d. Divine Savior 25-11, 25-11, 25-14: Aryanah Diaz: 16 kills, 15 assists, 13 digs; Ella Snayd 11 assists, 2 aces; Izabella Santiago 9 kils, 23 digs, ace. RP 16-5.
▪ Calvary Christian d. Pompano Beach 25-17, 20-25, 25-12, 25-21: Manaia Rewi 17 assists, 15 digs, 12 service points, 10 kills, 4 aces, 4 blocks; Maylin Bouffard 14 digs, 10 kills, 8 service points, 2 aces, 2 blocks; Kaitlyn Green 8 kills, 6 service points, 2 blocks, ace. CC 12-6.
▪ Monarch d. Boca Raton-St. John Paul II: 18-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-21: Tia Face 10 kills, 8 digs, 3 points, 2 blocks; Maria-Jose Padin 30 assists, 11 points, 3 aces, 5 digs; Serah O’Keefe 8 kills, 6 blocks, 13 digs, 12 points, 4 aces. MON 12-4.
▪ Pace d. SLAM 25-23, 25-12, 25-20: Tabi Lins 8 kills, 10 assists, 6 digs; Gbay Perez-Robles 4 kills, 5 services points, 5 digs; Vanessa Perez-Robles 11 services points, 8 assists, 3 digs.
BOYS’ BOWLING
▪ Belen 7, Schoolhouse Prep 0: High Games: Fernando de la Lama (BEL) 190, Andres Jimenez (BEL) 154, Gaby Mavares (SP) 137. High Series: Fernando de la Lama (BEL) 501. BEL 5-2.
▪ Columbus 7, Braddock 0: High Game: Gumer Mejia (COL) 233. High Series: Eric Garcia (BRD) 605. COL 9-1.
CROSS COUNTRY
Pine Crest Invitational at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek.
GIRLS: Team: 1. Pine Crest 21; 2. Key West 106; 3. Boca Raton-St. John Paul II 134; 4. West Palm Beach-King’s Academy 143; 5. North Broward Prep 166; 6. Palmer Trinity 173; 7. Calvary Christian 174; 8. LaSalle 199; 9. Marathon 223.
Individuals: 1. Matysik, Nicole (KW) 19:55.70; 2. Beleznay, Maya (PC) 20:21.66; 3. Faulhaber, Emily (PC) 20:44.42; 4. Yared, Tsion (PC) 20:48.58; 5. Yared, Mahdere (PC) 20:57.03; 6. Hincapie, Jasmine (WA) 21:06.40; 7. Pinnell, Katie (NBP) 21:45.61; 8. Lawlor, Cassie (PC) 22:00.60; 9. Rodriguez, Mia (KA) 22:07.57; 10. Schwartz, Amanda (PC) 22:15.82.
BOYS: Team: *1. Key West 94; 2. West Palm Beach-King’s Academy 94; 3. Pine Crest 102; 4. Palmer Trinity 108; 5. Archbishop McCarthy 135; 6. Calvary Christian 139; 7. Marathon 178; 8. Lake Worth Christian 272; 9. Florida Christian 272; 10. Divine Savior 297; 11. North Broward Prep 320; 12. Highlands Christian 324.
* won on sixth runner
Individuals: 1. Szklany, Ryan (HC) 17:08.70; 2. Pedroza, Robert (KW) 17:19.52; 3. Rodriguez, Thomas (AM) 18:03.20; 4. Child, Aydan (MAR) 18:11.81; 5. Ortega, Gabriel (PC) 18:14.27; 6. Dunn, Cameron (KA) 18:26.34; 7. Pitchford, Jonathan (MAR) 18:34.04; 8. Allen, Owen (KW) 18:45.15; 9. Grinage, Mark (LWC) 18:47.19; 10. Ferro, Danny (CC) 18:56.28.
This story was originally published October 13, 2017 at 9:24 PM with the headline "Belen sophomore running back Chaney Jr. scores five TDs in win over Braddock."