Monday, June 25, 2007 1:08 AM CDT
After the storm, East shines in victory
By Mike Monahan Staff Writer
mmonahan@jg-tc.com
DECATUR – Both East and West Order of the Eastern Star All-Star football teams were lined up outside of their respective locker rooms waiting to see when they would play as a heavy downpour with lighting fell. The game started an hour and a half later than the scheduled kickoff of 4 p.m.
After the rain the East team prevailed 7-6 in a contest shortened to 10 minute quarters and a 10 minute halftime due to the possibility of more storms. It was the fourth straight victory for the East team and has pulled to within a game of tying the series, having won eight of the 17 games.
The East defense stopped the West three times inside their 40, including a goal line stand in the first half. The East, coached by LeRoy’s BJ Zeleznik, also stopped a two-point conversion attempt with five minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the game at Frank M. Lindsay Field on the campus of Millikn University. One of the main forces behind the defense was the play of Charleston graduate Cody Mason, who earned Most Valuable Player honors for the East, earning a $500 scholarship.
“Cody is a fine ball player,” said Zeleznik. “We don’t see too many6-4, 240 pound middle linebackers that can do some of the things that Cody can do. He was very impressive and we used him on the offensive side as a fullback as well. He does a wonderful job.”
Mason made one of the bigger hits of the game when he stuffed Nathan Spaulding of Heyworth for no gain in the second half.
“It has been awhile since I have hit someone like that,” said Mason. “It felt really good to let that out. I had a great time. Everybody was great and we connected so well. It was fun and I am glad I came on the team.”
Mason had such a good time that he is thinking about playing at Southern Illinois in 2008. Mason is to attend the school along with his teammate Brady Wesch, who also played in the contest.
“I wasn’t thinking about playing football there, but I am not sure now,” said Mason. “I am not going to play this year though.”
Trailing 7-0 the West began its scoring drive early in the fourth on the East 44 after a fake punt failed. Decatur MacArthur’s Jamaar Wilson gained 13 yard son third and nine for a first down and Decatur St. Teresa’s Sean Dunning, who is to play at Illinois State, gained 10 yards. Maroa-Forsyth’s Shane Conaway and Dunning, the Herald & Review Macon County Player of the Year, gained six yards each, making it first and goal at the six. Sangamon Valley’s Zach Gass, who is to play at McKendree, scored on the first play with 5:28 remaining. Gass was named the West MVP.
After both teams used a time-out the West went for the two-point conversion and gave the ball to Dunninig on a counter to the left. Mahomet-Seymour’s Austin Moore forced Dunning to go to the outside and Dunning slipped trying to make the cut on the wet field.
“We knew what coach (Michael) Lee (coach of the West) likes to do at Sangamon Valley where he is head coach),” said Zeleznik of the East’s defense that held the West to 98 yards. “We knew they were going to run ‘I’ formation. We worked a lot on defending the ‘I’ and what comes out of the ‘I’ and the kids really stepped it up. We had one big goal line stand and another two-point conversion stop For our defense it was a game of bend don’t break and we had to make a big play –we made the big play and it was fantastic. It is just a matter of can you pursue to the football and get enough guys on the ball because he is very difficult to bring down one-on-one. We knew that if we were going to get stuck in a lot of one-on-one situation we were going to have a lot of trouble. Fortunately, for us our kids perused the ball well.”
The East got the ball back and was able to eat up the rest of the time as Arthur-Lovington’s Kody Smith made a 29-yard reception for a first down and Mahomet-Seymour’s John Porter gained eight yards for another first down. On fourth and three from the West 30 with 37.8 second left Mount Zion’s RJ McEldowney made the catch for the first down.
“It was a Post pattern,” said Smith, who had to break his pattern and go to the middle of the field. “All that was going through my mind was don’t drop it. I was just trying everything I could just to hold on to it and not let them strip it.”
Smith’s teammate Josh Stack, who is to play at Illinois College said, “It is probably the greatest game I have ever played in. It was the most physical game I have ever played in It was pretty awesome. Playing football is the greatest thing ever and with the win it makes everything better. It didn’t feel like a high school game. I love the physicality of it and it just kind of shows what I have to get ready for and this was a great step towards it.”
Wesch, who played offensive tackle said, “It was fun as heck getting to come out and play again. I enjoyed it. Getting back into the swing of things and being able to pancake some guys was fun. It was fun making new friends. We came together just like that. We had four days of practice and we all came together. We had a blast out there.”
Wesch is also to play in the Illinois All-Star Shrine Football game at Peoria Public Schools Stadium July 21.
The West began the game with a 55-yard kickoff return by Decatur MacArthur’s Zye Boey, putting the ball on the East 37. Two plays later Salt Fork’s Rob Foley picked off a tipped pass at his own nine. A botched snap in shotgun formation hurt the East and Lovington grad, Seth Boddy, who played for Arthur-Lovington, punted. Again the West had excellent field position at the East 30. The West didn’t gain a yard in three plays and Arthur-Lovington’s Josh Stack made the stop on third down.
The East began its scoring drive on its own 37 in its first possession of the second quarter. Smith, a Class 1A all-stater from Arthur, caught his first pass of the game for seven yards and Tuscola’s Broc Winn gave the East a first down by hauling in a 16-yard pass from Unity’s Dane Paul. After an illegal procedure penalty, Smith caught a 44-yard pass over the middle, moving the ball down to the West four. Winn scored on the next play on a four-yard pass with 4:49 remaining. Boddy’s extra point hit the left upright and went through, giving the East a 7-0 advantage.
“It was wonderful playing on the field I am going to be on next year,” said Smith, who is to play at Millikin. “It was a great to in a way, win the last high school game I am going to play.”
Boddy made the tackle on the kickoff as Boey returned it 48 yards to the East 47. From there the West picked up 39 yards in two plays on runs by Conaway and Spaulding. Conaway got the next three carries and gained three on the first play, but was held to no gains the next two plays making it fourth and goal from the five. Dunning got the ball on a sweep left and just before the goal line Shelbyville’s Greg Powers knocked him out of bounds.
“The coaches told us to watch for it and it came and we stopped them,” said Powers, who is to play at Eureka. “I loved practicing with these kids. It was the most fun experience I have had so far.”
Also playing for the East was Arthur’s Nick Coleman, who played cornerback and Shelbyville’s Cortland Helton, who was the center.
Zeleznik said, “The whole group of kids are just fine outstanding citizens. Their parents have done a great job. It is really a pleasure to come to a game like this and work with this type of team. It was a fantastic experience.”
Also on the East team was Sullivan’s Jacob Peterson, who is to walk-on at Northern Illinois University. Peterson was unable to play after suffering a viral infection after doing missionary work in New Orleans.
Contact Mike Monahan at mmonahan@jg-tc.com or 238-6854.
East 0 7 0 0 –7
West 0 0 0 6 –6
Second quarter
E-Broc Winn 4-yard pass from Dane Paul (Seth Boddy kick) 4:49
Fourth quarter
W-Zach Gass 6-yard run (run failed) 5:28
Team statistics
E W
First downs 9 7
By rush 3 6
By pass 5 1
By penalty 1 0
Rushes-yards 23-25 25-88
Passes attempted 11 7
Passes completed 8 1
Had intercepted 1 1
Yards passing 139 10
Total offense 164 98
Punts-avg. 1-36 2-31
Fumbles-lost 3-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 1-5 2-10
Individual statistics
Rushing
E-Cody Divan 2-8; Dane Paul 7-(-16); Winn 1-4; John Porter 4-7; Alan Douglas (2 (-1); Beau Atwood 5-7; Kody Smith 1-11; RJ McEldowney 1-5
W-Sean Dunning 7-18; Nathan Spaulding 4-13; Andrew Force 3-(-4); Shane Conaway 7-31; Jamaar Wilson 2-16; Gass 1-6, TD; Troy Nash 1-8
Passing
E-Paul 8-11-1-139, TD
W-Force 1-6-1-10; Wilson 0-1-0-0
Receiving
E-Winn 3-26, TD;Smith 3-80; RJ McEdlowney 2-33
W-Jess Reising 1-10
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