Saturday, July 24, 2011

Mike Popovich

Canton Repository

CANTON  It turns out defense wins all-star games, too.

Defense certainly made an impact for one team in Saturday’s Repository East-West All-Star Football Game at Fawcett Stadium.

Over 6,000 fans saw three interceptions and a two-point conversion stop become big factors for the West in its 20-12 victory.

Lake’s Dan Reed had two interceptions, including one on a tipped pass in the final minute. His other pick set up a West touchdown.

An interception by Massillon’s Tyler Miller in the second quarter stopped the East’s first serious scoring drive. His tackle of McKinley’s Taron Montgomery on a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter prevented the East from taking the lead.

“We wanted to make plays for each other,” Miller said. “... Anytime we can make a big play like that, we can help the team win.

“I was given an opportunity, and when you’re given an opportunity, you have to take advantage of it and make a play for your team.”

The East put itself on the brink of the lead with 5:33 left in the game when Hoover’s Joe Housos caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Minerva’s DJ Marrah on fourth down. It cut the West’s lead to 13-12.

The East ran a reverse on the two-point conversion, but Miller stopped Montgomery short of the end zone.

“I just took an outside angle,” Miller said. “He tried to cut back inside, but I broke down and made a tackle.”

A 1-yard touchdown run by Jackson’s Will Logan and an extra point from Central Catholic’s Joe Andler with 1:26 left closed out the scoring for the West.

“It’s just one of those games,” said East head coach Steve Miller of East Canton. “A play here, a play there, and you’re on the wrong end.”

Perry’s Cody Minor played the whole game at quarterback for the West and had a big night. Minor completed 12 of 17 passes for 161 yards — the sixth-highest total in the game’s 22 years — and hooked up with Canton South’s Eric Thompkins on a 34-yard touchdown completion in the third quarter.

Minor also rushed for 48 yards on seven carries. His 25-yard run late in the game set up Logan’s touchdown.

“He did a good job,” Thompkins said of Minor. “We only had a week to prepare, and he was the only quarterback. He did the best he could in that situation.”

Minerva’s Drew Prendergast rushed for a game-high 76 yards on 11 carries for the East. His 34-yard touchdown run featuring a dazzling spin move in the third quarter tied the game, 6-6.

Northwest’s Gavin Hutchison rushed for a team-high 50 yards on 11 carries for the West and opened the scoring late in the first half with a 3-yard TD run.

The victory was the second in three games for Central Catholic’s Lowell Klinefelter as head coach of the West.

“We don’t have anybody that stood out way ahead of somebody else,” Klinefelter said. “We just have a group of hard working young men that I’m sure proud of. They hung tough when they had to.”

22nd annual Rep East-West All-Star Football Game

West 20, East 12

At Fawcett Stadium

East    0    0    6    6    —    12

West    0    6    7    7    —    20

Scoring

Second Quarter

W—Hutchison 3 run (kick failed)

Third Quarter

E—Prendergast 34 run (kick failed)

W—Thompkins 34 pass from Minor (Andler kick)

Fourth Quarter

E—Housos 15 pass from Marrah (run failed)

W—Logan 1 run (Andler kick)

Game Statistics

First Downs: E 15, W 11

Rushes-yards: E 31-122, W 29-91

Passing yards: E 100, W 161

Comp-Att-Int: E 12-29-3, W 12-17-1

Punts-Avg: E 6-30.7, W 4-35.5

Fumbles-Lost: E 0-0, W 2-2

Penalties-Yards: E 6-61, W 2-20

Time of Possession: E 30:05, W 17:55

Individual Statistics

RUSHING—East, Prendergast 11-76, Montgomery 1-13, Farrakhan 9-40, Schmidt 4-(-17), Marrah 4-12, Choong 2-(-2). West, Hutchison 11-50, Minor 7-48, R.Reed 1-(-1), Logan 6-0, Miller 1-(-6).

PASSING—East, Schmidt 7-11-46-1; Meredith 1-8-20-0; Marrah 4-10-34-2. West, Minor 12-17-161-1.

RECEIVING—East, White 2-23, Montgomery 2-6, Prendergast 2-29, Farrakhan 1-5, Young 2-14, Choong 1-(-1), Housos 1-15, Kelley 1-9. West, Thompkins 3-76, Hutchison 3-26, R.Reed 2-6, Logan 2-42, Polk 2-11.

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Hoover Vikings Football

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Defense Leads West to victory