March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 50 F

From teammates, to rivals. Philly friends will meet again tomorrow on the field.

Jake Zuzek in action (Photo: Navy Athletics)
Jake Zuzek in action (Photo: Navy Athletics)

Four years ago, Jake Zuzek  and Raymond Maples, of Philadelphia were playing football together at West Catholic High School in Philadelphia. Both were all PA-state selections, Catholic League and Philadelphia City Champions. And then they graduated–each going their separate ways. Until tomorrow at the 115th Army-Navy Game.

Jake Zuzek is a starting guard for Navy and Raymond Maples is a starting running back for the Army Black Knights and for sixty minutes, these friends will become arch rivals for the last time as they are both seniors at the service academies.

Jake Zuzek

Zuzek is a 2010 graduate of West Philadelphia Catholic High School, and attended the Naval Academy Prep School during the 2010-11 academic year. In high school, he was a two-sport athlete who earned letters in football (4) and baseball (2). He was a three-time All-Catholic football selection who garnered All-State (S.C.) and all-area honors as a junior and senior He served as team captain of the football team his senior year. He is member of the 13-2 Catholic League and region championship football team in 2008 .

At Navy, he is Navy’s starter at right guard and has started 26 consecutive games. He has developed into the leader on the offensive line and is one of the strongest players on the team. While at Navy, he has earned three varsity letters and is majoring in general science.

Raymond Maples

Maples is a two-time all-state performer at West Philadelphia Catholic High in Philadelphia, Pa. and starred at both running back and strong safety. He earned All-Catholic League honors at both positions and  all-city choice at both spots as well.He teamed with Rob Holloman (Kent State) and Curtis Drake (Penn State) to form trio of 1,000-yard rushers– the first team in city history to accomplish that feat . He  closed his high school career with 45 career rushing touchdowns and over 2,500 ground yards. He was a four-time letterwinner and served as team captain during senior campaign helping the club to three consecutive city championships and state runnerup finish in 2008 .

While at West Point, he is the third back in Army history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons and is trying to join Mike Mayweather as only Black Knights to reach the 1,000-yard mark three times. Maples ranks sixth on Army’s all-time rushing list with 2,489 yards, he sits fifth in Army history with 10 100-yard rushing games and  has combined for 2,281 yards in last two years. He is majoring in systems management.

With graduation and service commitments in the spring, this will likely be the final game where these two will face each other on opposite teams. Beyond that, they will be on one!

Raymond Maples (l) and Jake Zuzek (r)
Raymond Maples (l) and Jake Zuzek (r)

Be sure to follow Eye On Annapolis on Twitter and Facebook for up to date game information tomorrow!

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