By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMPORIA -- The West put together several scoring threats in Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl, out-gaining the East 277 yards to 218 and reaching East territory six times.
But the East defense had an answer for each and every test it faced, posting a 14-7 win in front of 6,035 fans at Welch Stadium while not allowing a West offensive score.
Washburn Rural product Brody Haas (42) celebrates a big defensive play in the East's 14-7 Shrine Bowl win Saturday in Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Former Washburn Rural star Brody Haas and Rossville product Andre Johnson both played key roles in the East's defensive effort, combining for 10 tackles (eight solo) and three pass breakups while Haas also registered a sack.
"We had a lot of good scout from the offense throughout the week and it felt like every formation was something we had already kind of seen so nothing really surprised us,'' Haas said. "We dominated the line of scrimmage and were able to cover our spaces very well, so they really couldn't do anything about it because everyone was doing their job and that's how you play good football.''
The West scored its lone touchdown when Houston Bowlin (Derby) recovered a first-quarter East fumble in the end zone while the East got touchdown passes from former Shawnee Heights star Aiden Scott and Kansas City-Washington product Savion Stone, which proved to be enough for the East to cut its deficit in the series to 30-19-2.
Former Rossville star Andre Johnson (24) registered five tackles for the East in Saturday's 14-7 Shrine Bowl victory over the West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"We were locked in the whole week,'' Johnson said. "We were ready for this West offense all week and we proved it today and made it a goose egg. It was fun.''
The East drew first blood at the 7:03 mark of the opening quarter when Scott connected with Alec Jett (St. James Academy) for a 24-yard touchdown pass (conversion failed) after Osage City product Quenten Stark picked off a pass deep in East territory and returned it 33 yards to the West 49-yard-line.
The West took its only lead of the night on Bowlin's fumble recovery in the end zone and an extra-point kick from Brody Haskell (Augusta) with 2:54 left in the opening quarter and the West reached the 4-yard-line after recovering a fumble before Hayden Heller (Mill Valley) recorded the East's second interception of the night on the third play of the second quarter to thwart the threat.
The East scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with 1:13 left in the opening half on a 27-yard pass from Stone to Blake Jay (Mill Valley) after Austin Zeller (Jackson Heights) recoverd a West fumble.
Stone, who was named the East Most Valuable Player, then ran for the two-point conversion to account for what proved to be the final margin after a scoreless second half.
"During halftime our coach was saying how we were doing such a good job with if we let a bad play happen we wouldn't let two happen right in a row and we didn't stack bad plays one after the other,'' said Haas, who is headed to Benedictine.
Shawnee Heights product Aiden Scott (20) was named the East's Most Inspirational Player after Saturday's 14-7 Shrine Bowl win. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Scott, who was voted the East's Most Inspirational Player, split time with Stone throughout the game, with Scott, a Washburn signee, completing 5 of 7 passes for 62 yards and Stone going 6 of 7 for 54 yards.
"The team had confidence in both of us back there in the backfield,'' Scott said. "The bond that we have definitely helps out. We helped each other and would could come to the sidelines and see what the other person sees and just go to work out there.
"We've both got talent, we both work hard, so it works out.''
Former Nemaha Central star Carter Hajek, who will play at Emporia State, led the East with 59 rushing yards on 13 attempts.
Salina Central product Cooper Reves was named the West MVP after rushing for a game-high 91 yards on 14 carries.
Rossville's Johnson plans to enlist in the Marines in the near future and said Saturday night's win was the perfect way to cap his football career.
"A great way to go out,'' he said. "I wanted to end it on a win. I ended on a win at the All-America Game and it's way better to go 2-0 to end my career after losing at state. It's way better.''
EAST 14, WEST 7
West 7 0 0 0 -- 7
East 6 8 0 0 -- 14
East -- Jett 24 pass from Scott (run failed)
West -- Bowlin fumble recovery in end zone (Haskell kick)
East -- Jay 27 pass from Stone (Stone run)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- West: Reves 14-91, M. Myers 6-26, Minton 5-22, Lind 7-22, Farney 1-6, Herd 1-(minus)-6. East: Hajek 13-59, Stone 7-21, Woodruff 4-15, Randall 3-8, Bush 2-3, Scott 3-2, Team 3-2, Jay 2-(minus)-8.
Passing -- West: M. Myers 10-21-0, 65 yards; Minton 8-12-2, 76. East: Scott 5-7-0, 62; Stone 6-7-0, 54.
Receiving -- West: J. Myers 5-58, Farney 5-20, Reves 3-4, Albert 2-17, Fieser 1-22, McGowan 1-14, Johnson 1-6. East: Jay 4-48, Woodruff 3-16, Jett 2-37, Johnson 1-9, McCullough 1-6.
Punting -- West: M. Myers 1-52.0; Vikander 1-41-0. East: Zeller 4-37.0.
Tackles -- West: Steven 5 solo-1 assist-6 total; Harp 5-0-5, Anderson 5-0-0. East: Frazier 6-1-7, Zeller 5-0-5, Johnson 4-1-5, Haas 4-1-5.
