HoopInsider_Cooper Posted July 30, 2008 Report Posted July 30, 2008 By Brice Cherry Tribune-Herald youth sports editor SAN ANTONIO — The South shall rise — no, check that, the North shall rise again. Seemingly dead in the water, the North squad broke loose with a three-score tidal wave in the last 98 seconds to stun the South, 16-15, in the Texas High School Coaches Association’s All-Star Football Game here Tuesday night at the Alamodome. The winning points came off the foot of Baylor-bound kicker Ben Parks of Argyle, who nailed a 41-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining. It was an ending nobody saw coming, one that sparked jublation on the North sideline and disgust among the South. “Man, that was exciting,†said Copperas Cove defensive tackle Steven Welch, the lone Central Texas player on the North squad. “When we blocked that final field goal, it was just the most amazing feeling. That’s a feeling you get maybe two or three times in your life, and I’m just happy I was able to experience it.†How wacky was the game? Well, how often are three MVP awards handed out, yet none to a member of the winning team? Yet that’s exactly what happened, as Angleton star and Texas signee D.J. Monroe (107 rushing yards, one TD) was named the offensive MVP, and linebackers Marlowe Poitier of Liberty Hill and Chuck Obi of Lamar Consolidated shared the defensive MVP award. All three players hailed from the South, as the MVP vote was turned in by the media prior to the final three scores. With two minutes left, the game was all but over, with the dominant South in command, 15-0. But up against the clock, the North came up with a frenzied flourish worthy of any highlight show. First, North Texas-bound quarterback Riley Dodge of Southlake Carroll connected with Highland Park’s Seth Gardner on a 38-yard scoring strike with 1:38 left. Following a successful onside kick, the South quickly struck again. This time, it was Rockwall QB Braden Smith zipping a pass 37 yards to Jeremy Watson with 1:24 on the clock, cutting the South lead to 15-13. The North’s pass for two failed, but the fireworks hadn’t dissipated yet. On the North’s ensuing onside kick attempt, James Erwin of Nacogdoches slid under a bouncing football to again give the ball back to a suddenly supercharged kicking team. And kick they did. With 25 seconds left, Parks booted his 41-yarder through the uprights to give the North a 16-15 lead. The electrifying Monroe gave the South one last hope, taking the ensuing kick past midfield. But South kicker Drew Nelson of Livingston couldn’t match Parks’ heroics, as his 45-yard field goal try with time winding down was blocked. It was a painful end for the Central Texas players on the South squad, none more so than China Spring quarterback Dustin Eskew. Eskew played well, passing for a team-high 62 yards and a touchdown and running for 30 more, but he suffered a painful knee injury on a six-yard scamper to the sideline late in the third quarter. “They think I tore my ACL,†said Eskew, who has signed to play baseball for McLennan Community College. “I can’t believe it, in my last football game. I felt a pop in my knee when I landed, and at first after I got up, I thought I could walk it off. But when (the trainer) came over and started pressing and pushing on it, the pain really started kicking in.†Still, even in spite of the way everything turned out, Eskew had no regrets. After all, he got to experience a few highs too, including a beautiful 51-yard missile to Smithson Valley’s Cody Renken for the game’s first touchdown. Following that play, Eskew showed some impressive high jumping skills, leaping and high-fiving his teammates and coaches. “I was pretty pumped after that play,†Eskew said. “That was exciting. It was the first touchdown of the game. ... It was supposed to be a 10-yard out, but the corner bit, so we went over the top.†Also playing for the South squad were Cameron’s Thomas Limmer, Bremond’s Rickie Williams, Salado’s Dallas Butts and La Vega’s Will Henry. After the game, the always-intense Henry paced the field shaking his head, unhappy with the way the final 90 seconds played out. “I did my job, but I’m just disappointed with our performance as a team,†said Henry, a Sam Houston signee. “You always take a lesson from an L — and the lesson here is that we got too comfortable.â€
KFDM COOP Posted July 30, 2008 Report Posted July 30, 2008 What a finish!! It's on Fox right now (Noon).
NedDog Posted July 30, 2008 Report Posted July 30, 2008 Sounds like a great game. Does anyone know if Fox SW is going to replay it again soon?
Recommended Posts