The Ballou Knights opened their DCIAA Stars schedule with an incredible comeback victory over Theodore Roosevelt 29-26 on Friday night. The Knights trailed the Rough Riders 20-7 as late as the third quarter, but rallied with a pair of touchdown receptions by senior wide receiver Lavonte Gater, including the go-ahead score with five seconds remaining.
As Gater proved to be the hero, it was his closest friend that garnered the most attention from reporters and on-lookers. Jamal Speaks capped a tumultuous couple of weeks drawing concerns and public attention over his eligibility to play football stemming from him not having a permanent address due to him being homeless.
Speaks rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown Friday against Roosevelt, according to MaxPreps. He also added two catches for 59 yards, including a huge reception on the game-winning drive.
Speaks was deemed ineligible just minutes prior to a Sept. 15 game against Southeast D.C. rivals, Anacostia. Ballou’s principal Willie Jackson would not allow Speaks to take the field in large due to a decision made by District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA) because an address could not be verified for Speaks in August, despite the DC State Athletic Association, who governs the city’s high school athletics, had already ruled Speaks eligible prior to the season.
It was the second time Speaks had gone through such ordeal. He previously went through eligibility concerns two years prior after he played for the Knights as a freshman. However, this go-around of concerns led to a heartbreaking situation as University of Temple coaches were in attendance to see Speaks play. Temple has already made an official offer to him if he can qualify academically for the Division I, Football Bowl Sub-division program. However, they were unable to see him play as he was pulled from the game.
Speaks is homeless, his father is deceased and he does not have an ongoing relationship with his mother — it was her Maryland residence that sparked his ineligibility in his sophomore year. So the 18-year old has used friends and teammates’ homes to stay the night, including Friday’s hero, Gater.
Multiple news outlets picked up on the story of Speaks being held out of the game against Anacostia, and the publicity brought on an outcry from numerous supporters including Ward 8 Council Member Trayvon White. A GoFundMe account was setup in hopes of securing an apartment for Speaks to have a permanent D.C. address.
Last week, DC Public Schools said his eligibility would be reconsidered. Meanwhile, the Covenant House Greater Washington located just blocks from Ballou stepped in and offered Speaks housing and a permanent address. Ultimately the DCIAA accepted the DCSAA’s earlier decision, making Speaks eligible for Friday’s game against Roosevelt.
Speaks did not disappoint with collecting 202 total yards and one score. It’s a decision that certainly he is thankful for as he gets to continue his high school career with hopes of advancing to college.
“It just feels like a blessing to be in this uniform again,” a smiling Speaks told Samantha Pell of the Washington Post.
