Shade Shines in Spotlight

Bryce Shade knows about coming up big when the spotlight is at its brightest.

As a sophomore, Shade took to the wrestling mat and went up against the best District 30 and later Region 8 had to throw at him. Dominating performance after dominating performance, Shade worked his way through the bracket and finished his season off as a Region 8 champion last winter.

So it should come as little surprise to his teammates on the Timber Creek High School football team that when the bright spotlight was available during the South Jersey Group 3 championship game against Hammonton Saturday night, it was Shade who stepped—rather, sprinted—into it.

Shade put together one of his best performances of the season, reeling in a 61-yard touchdown reception and powering home an 8-yard touchdown run in the Chargers’ 33-7 win.

Shade’s biggest play came in the final minute of the second quarter. Timber Creek was leading 13-6 and Hammonton had just fumbled a punt on the Chargers’ 39-yard line. Rather than be satisfied with a six-point lead heading into halftime, coach Rob Hinson dialed up a deep pass play that saw Shade sprint down the far sideline.

As the play developed, it was clear that Shade had a step on his defender. The only questions were whether the protection would hold up long enough for the play to develop and whether quarterback Calvin Lowe could put the ball where it needed to be.

The protection was solid and the pass perfect. Shade did the rest, accepting the deep pass with soft hands and making his way into the end zone.

“I knew it was out front of me,” Shade said. “I put my head down and started running. I had to catch up to it.”

As the play was called, Shade assured his quarterback he would make the catch.

“He told me, ‘Air it out and I’m going to go get it,’” Lowe said.

The fact that Shade made a huge play didn’t surprise those teammates who know him well. Although the game plan doesn’t always give Shade the opportunity to put up monster numbers, the junior has always made the most of his chances.

“Bryce is one of those guys where he is consistent all through the season,” Lowe said. “He’s not going complain, not going to moan, he is just going to do whatever it takes for the team to win. Bryce is just one of those guys. I kept telling him all season, ‘You’re going to get your moment’ and what better moment to have than the state championship.”

The touchdown changed the entire complexion of the game. Instead of being within one score, Hammonton was down two touchdowns and was forced to air the ball out in the second half. The passing attack faltered thanks to a Timber Creek secondary that finished with three interceptions.

Shade later capped his day with a touchdown run that helped seal the victory.

“This means a lot,” Shade said. “We have been practicing since the summer time, practicing till it’s dark out. It just feels really good right now.”

It’s a feeling that won’t soon go away for Shade and his Chargers teammates.