Lightning Football News...

The Riverside Cougars' stadium was full of excitement again, but this time it wasn't because the Cougars had just won back-to-back championships as they did last fall, this time it was the anticipation of the third annual 8-Man East Vs West All Star Game.

Top seniors were invited from all around southern and central California to be a part of this game. There are 58 schools in the Small School Football Coaches Association of California that participate in 8-man football. All proceeds from this annual event goes to the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Over $10,000 was donated just in the last two years.

The Lightning sent three of its seniors to represent the school and the East squad. This year's selections were Seniors Bryan Bates, Chris Bridenstine and Stephen Wilcox.

The East won the game last year by a score of just 2-0 in a defensive battle that was won by a blocked kick in the end zone. The East came into the game favored this year because of Cougar running back Mario Guzman. Guzman ran for 2,299 yd's last season and scored 34 touchdowns.

The East won the toss and started on offense and just as anticipated, on the first play, Guzman ran for 20 yd's and a 1st down. Michael Reynoso of Trona High School was the starting full back and he got 13 yd's on a sweep in the next series. Two plays later, QB Ryan Campbell, ran it in for a TD making the score 6-0 East. The extra point was good and the score was 7-0 East.

The East kicked off to the West and got introduced to Carlos Marmalejo of Valley Christian/Bakersfield who ran the kickoff back 30 yd's Then David Kim, also of Valley Christian/Bakersfield, got loose on a 20 yd run. It looked like the West was going to score when a Holding call, sent them back 10 yd's and made it a 3rd down and 13. The East defense held and forced the West to try a field goal. West kicker Gera Cisneros of Avalon High School kicked a 22-yd field goal making the score 7-3 East.

At the beginning of the second quarter the West scored again, after the defense caused a Guzman fumble, when West QB Justin Lott of Kings Christian ran up the middle on a QB keeper. The extra point was good and the West got their first lead of the game 10-7.

The West was on the march again when Jack McDonald of Maricopa High School broke away on a 40 yard scamper and would have scored but Bridenstine made a great stop at the 8yd line. A 5-yard delay of game penalty sent them back to the 13 yd line and then the West shot themselves in the foot again with an illegal forward pass penalty.

The East took over on downs and and started their own march for a TD with great runs from Campbell for 15 yd's and 32 yd's and Guzman for 12 yd's Guzman finished off the drive by scoring his 35th TD of his Senior year making the score 13-10. East kicker Jeremiah Nurse of Antelope Christian made the extra point and the score was 14-10.

The East got a scare from the West's Marmalejo when he ran back the KO for 45 yd's but later a fumble by Marmalejo gave the ball back to the East to end the first half of play.

The half time events featured the Riverside Christian Cheer Squad and a field goal kicking contest for kids less than 12 years old. About eight young men came forward from the stands to give it a try. Each kicker had a shot at a 15-yd field goal. Five of the eight advanced to the 2nd round which was a 25-rd attempt. Only one kicker prevailed and won the contest and that was Christian Mendez of Riverside.


The West opened the second half with a great 65-yd drive that featured both Kim and Marmalejo on some great runs. Kim punched it in on a 2-yd run making the score 16-14 West. The extra point was good and it was 17-14 West.

Bridenstine started took the Kick off and ran it back 28 yd's giving the East a boost in the next drive and then it was all Guzman as he drove it down the field with runs of 17 and 13 yd's Then Campbell ran it in from 6 yd's out to score. The extra point was good and the East was up once again 21-17.

The fourth quarter was all West, Kim and Marmalejo dominated with some great running. The East just couldn't get anything going and the West's defense was making some good stops. Kim scored again by leaping over a wall of players to make the score 21-24 after the kick.

The East took over with 4:09 left in the game. Guzman had a few good runs but the West's defense was sending two and three players after Guzman on every play making it tough to get the yardage. On a fourth and 8 play Noel Hernandez of Avalon High School make a great stop on a pass play over the middle that stopped the hopes of the East by giving the ball back to the West with only 1:47 left.

The East held for a few plays but the Kim got loose and on a breakaway to score the final TD making the score 31-21 West, after the kick.

The West now leads the series 2-1 with this year's win.

The East MVP of the game was Guzman who had a game high 175 yd's rushing and the West MVP was Kim with 110 yd's rushing.

All three Lightning players were starters for the East. Bates was the starting center, Bridenstine the starting CB and Wilcox was a starting Defensive End.

Congratulations to all the players and coaches of both teams for making this year's game a great one.

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Visit the Lightning Football Archives for 2002!