Playing To The Maxx: Imsho Steps Up

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By Jay Cook
A memo to Shore Conference teams in 2016: It’s time to start game-planning around Middletown South’s most versatile weapon.
After snagging eight-interceptions during the Eagles’ championship 2015 season, senior safety, running back and wide receiver Maxx Imsho began his final year in blue-and-white with a statement against a Red Bank Catholic team two years removed from winning their own state title.
Compiling a 48-yard touchdown run, a 30-yard fumble recovery touchdown, an interception and nearly a dozen tackles, Imsho was up to the task for a marquee game the first week of Shore Conference football.
“It means a big deal to us,” Imsho said regarding the 49-14 win at Count Basie Field. “We start off the season with a fifth-ranked RBC team and it’s always fun to play them because we know a couple kids on the team, and it’s always great to start the season off with a win. It just moves us forward and hopefully produces more wins.”
The Eagles are ranked as a nearly consensus top-five team this season, despite losing twin tandem Cole and Dylan Rogers and Imsho’s best friend James McCarthy, who suffered an ACL tear in the offseason.
McCarthy gave Imsho a heartfelt pep-talk during pregame warm-ups.
“Right before the game, he came over to me and was like ‘play this one for me, do this one for me,’ so I went out there and played the way he would play.”
And what a game it was. Imsho showed his playmaking prowess when he really got going in the second quarter.
The 48-yard scamper was a designed zone run, where the Eagles’ offensive line opened up quite the lane for Imsho to fly right through. He couldn’t help but to thank the big guys up front.
“The offensive line did a great job the whole game,” he said. “They were getting their blocks on, getting up to the second level against the middle linebackers and outside linebackers. I gotta give full credit to the offensive line; without them I would be in the backfield on my back.”
His fumble-return touchdown in the third quarter sealed the deal for a possible Casey’s comeback, who narrowed Middletown South’s lead to two scores after the half.
Lined up at safety, Imsho was creeping up to play in the box, and reacted when he saw an errant snap.
“I saw the ball fly right over Lubischer’s head and I just wanted to get after it, because we always practice scoop-and-score.”
His Week 1 performance is the kind that puts himself on the radar of upcoming opponents, despite the fact that Middletown South plans to be a tough out all season long.
“I think they’re even higher because we have to repeat what we did last year and do it even better, because we want to be known as the senior class that is better than last year,” Imsho said of the expectations for 2016. “I know that’s going to be hard to do, but that’s what we’re striving for.”