McDougle Family Foundation building strong minds and bodies

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McDougle Bowl a big hit with student-athletes

By Emmett Hall Special Correspondent

The annual McDougle Bowl between the rival Deerfield Beach Bucks and Blanche Ely Tigers (Pompano Beach) is more than just a high school football game for north Broward bragging rights. It is also about providing scholarships to student-athletes through the McDougle Family Foundation.

The annual game is named after Stockar McDougle and his younger brother, Jerome. Both are former National Football League players who lined up against each other years ago as members of the Deerfield Beach and Blanche Ely squads.

Stockar attended Deerfield Beach High School before heading to Oklahoma University and then being drafted by the Detroit Lions as an offensive lineman. Jerome played for the Blanche Ely before going to the University of Miami. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles as a defensive tackle.

The Deerfield Bucks prevailed this year in a road game, but that wasn’t the brothers’ focus.

The McDougle Family Foundation, established in 2007, gave out a $1,000 college scholarship to the Most Valuable Player for each team at the game’s conclusion. Deerfield senior quarterback Teddrick Moffett and Ely senior linebacker David Francis were this year’s recipients.

“Hundreds of athletes fall through the cracks and don’t have the opportunity to go any further,” Stockar said. “There are legends in Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach, where we grew up, [who] never got that chance and Jerome and I are tired of seeing that.”

The foundation offers counseling, mentoring and a nutrition program. Student-athletes in all sports can be part of the program. Most of the work is done through camps, clinics and youth programs.

“The important part is we want these kids to get into college and excel,” Jerome said. “We want to start the students off with the tools to succeed. The McDougle Bowl is super important because it’s about two guys coming back to the community to show the kids there are many ways to make it to the next level. You get through the front door and achieve success through academics.”

Deerfield Beach High School Athletic Director Vince Tozzi is impressed with their efforts.

“These kids look up to these NFL players who come back to their old neighborhoods,” Tozzi said. “Stockar would come out and practice with our football players even after he got drafted by the Detroit Lions. He and his brother never forgot where they came from.”

For more information, visit TheMcdougleFamily.org   or Fir-stability.org  .