IRVINGTON – Irvington residents Kareem Walker and Hasise DuBois ended their high school football careers with a third straight state championship, helping DePaul Catholic to a convincing 40-17 victory over St. John Vianney in the state Non-Public Group 3 title game at Rutgers University’s High Point Solutions on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Walker, a senior All-American running back, rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries, while DuBois, a senior wide receiver, caught a 16-yard TD pass in the second quarter to give DePaul a 20-10 halftime lead. DuBois also rushed for 13 yards on six carries.
Walker had a two-yard TD run to give DePaul a 6-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Walker ran for a seven-yard score to increase the lead to 27-17 at the end of the third quarter.
DuBois has committed to sign with the University of Virginia on an athletic scholarship to continue his football career.
DuBois was elated about ending his career with another state title.
“It’s just a great feeling because you rarely hear of a high school team winning three straight,” said DuBois in a tweet to the Irvington Herald. “We just made sure we stamped out our legacy and be the first in DePaul history to win three straight” titles.
Seventh-seeded DePaul, which won the Non-Public Group 2 titles in 2013 and 2014, finished its 2015 season with a 6-6 record, handing top-seeded St. John Vianney (11-1) its only loss.
The DePaul Spartans had a daunting schedule this season that included four out-of-state opponents, going 1-3 in those games. The DePaul Spartans entered the playoffs with a 3-6 record. In the playoffs, DePaul defeated second-seeded Camden Catholic, 40-13; in the first round and third-seeded Delbarton, 34-7, in the semifinals.
Walker, who is ranked the No. 21 overall player and No. 1 running back in the nation by rivals.com in the Class of 2016, has reopened his college recruitment. He decommitted from Ohio State University. Walker this season finished with 1,509 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. DuBois, the team’s leading receiver, finished with 45 receptions for 740 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
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