West Wins 8-Man All-Star Game 46-20!

It was a beautiful night for football, a slight breeze and the smell of the BBQ, the sound of pre-game warm ups from each team, had the crowd of about 500 excited football fans ready for the kickoff. Football fans from all over Southern California had traveled to Lightning Stadium for the ninth annual 8-Man All-Star game.

Selected seniors from 61 teams were divided into two teams; the East - Coached by Israel Hagerman of Joshua Springs and the West - Coached by Garrick Moss of Santa Clarita Christian. Each team had only five practices to the learn the offensive and defensive plays and be prepared in time for the game.

It was a battle of defenses for the first 13 minutes of the game until the West struck first at the 1:17 mark on a 10yd run by #6 Nick Wallen of the Faith Baptist. #22 CJ Hughes of Rolling Hills Prep picked up the 2pt conversion and the score was 8-0, West.

In the 2nd quarter, the West didn't take long to get going again scoring at the 11:51 mark on a 36 yd TD pass play from #7 Samuel Suluam of Ribet HS to #5 Christian Villasenor Of Hillcrest Christian making the score 0-14. The 2pt conversion was no good.

The East took over with 11 minutes left in the 2nd quarter and got some momentum going on a 15yd Pass Interference play and a 25 yd pass play from Zack Ontiveros of Joshua Springs to Josh Leichtner of Joshua Springs to get to the West 15 yd line. But a 15 yd penalty put the East in a big hole and they turned the ball over on downs.

The West started pounding the ball at the East defense with their big offensive line but the East was doing a good job of stopping anything big until 6:25 left in the quarter when Brian Ramirez of Avalon broke through the line for an 18 yd TD run to make the score West 22-0 after the 2pt conversion was good.

The East was able to pick up a couple of 1st downs do to the efforts of Blaine Barton and Jordon Dorsey of Hesperia Christian but again was stopped short of scoring.

Then with 2:32 left in the quarter the West released their secret weapon Blayr Jimmerson of Windward who broke loose for a 40 yd run to make the score 28-0, West, and that was the end of the 1st half.

During the half-time a special presentation of the Randall Johnson Award was given to Frank Frisina of Rolling Hills Prep for his dedication and impact on 8-Man football this year.

The 2nd half opened with the East receiving the ball and marching down the field like a team on a combat mission. Jordon Dorsey and QB Josh Harris of Victor Valley Christian made play after play with Harris pushing the ball to the end zone at the 7:51 mark, making the score 6-28, West. The 2 pt conversion was no good.

The West took over after a failed on-side kick by the East and took the ball all the way down the field scoring at the 5:35 mark on a QB keeper by Wallen of Faith Baptist. The 2pt conversion was no good but the West now was leading 34-6.

The East took over with just 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and knew they had to get something going. QB Josh Harris picked up a couple of 1st downs but then the ball was turned over on a fumble after a catch and again the West had the ball.

The West smelling the win went for the kill pushing the ball on run and run wearing down the defense of the East. Collin Mayhugh of Santa Clarita then hit pay dirt on a 12 yd run with 1:53 left in the 3 quarter making the score 40-6, West. A celebration was starting on the West bench.

The East was not done yet. The East drove down the field with a combination of running from Dorsey of Hesperia Christian and AJ Mc Kay of Desert Chapel. Then Ontiveros and Leichtner hooked up again on a long TD pass play and all of a sudden the West bench was not celebrating. McKay picked up the 2pt conversion and the score was 14-40, East.

In the next series of downs the West on the 1st down play fumbled the ball and the East took over.

Again the East marched down the field picking up three first downs and McKay scored again on an end-run and with 3:25 left in the game the score was now 20-40, West.

The West took over and ran as many running plays as they could to eat the time off the clock. The East clearly had the momentum and in 8-Man football, anything can happen. But with 1:15 left in the game the west scored again making the score 46-20 West.

The East pick up a 1st down and drove down the field but could not score and the game ended with the final score West 46-20.

Three awards were given out at the end of the game. The Most Valuable Player of game was Blayr Jimmerson of Windward HS. The MVP of Offensive was Josh Harris of Victor Valley Christian and the MVP of Defense was CJ Hughes of Rolling Hills Prep.

Five players from Joshua Springs Christian were selected and played in the game; Zack Ontiveros, Josh Leichtner, Chris Barnes, Steven Henderson and Andy Frazer.

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