Defense shines in West 28-10 win over East

Tagged under: All-Stars, Beyond The Keystone, Game Photos

David Burnworth | July 21, 2019

Last night I made the drive from Buckeye Lake, Ohio to football crazy Canton, Ohio to watch the Canton Repository East-West All-Star Football Game. The game was another all star game, where it was the defense dominating and the offense showing a bit of a heartbeat at times. Overall the game was pretty solid, with both teams getting a little chippy at times.
Jack Laney, Fairless, who looked like a man throwing the ball during warm ups, would connect with Jacob Gonzalez, Green just :16 into the contest, to get things going for West squad. Then :19 later Sha-Vea Lightner, Perry showed off his speed and field vision, when he raced to a 17-yard gain. From there the drive died quickly as the defense awakened and showed the fans, that it was going to be the highlight of the game, though that fact was unknown at the time. The rest of the opening quarter flew by, with just two plays sticking out. The first was a 3rd and seven conversion by the west, with Cody Vacco, East Canton hitting Khyree Woody Canton McKinley for a gain of 8-yards. With just :08 left
Vacco was pressured by Max Bruckner, Central Catholic forcing the quarterback to throw the ball away.

The West offense would tease the fans, when Sha-Vea Lightner, Perry twist and turned his way to a 9-yard gain. Then it was a Luke Fennell, Northwest hooking up with the talent known as Riley James, Canton South for a gain of 11-yards. The hopes of any points being scored when, Caden Basha, Perry had his 31-yard field goal attempt line drive off of his snappers backside. The ball was scooped up by Morris Carpenter, McKinley, who returned it all the way to the West 12-yard line. He picked up about 50-yards on the scoop and run. The East offense needed just one play to go the `2-yards needed for the score, with Woody doing the honors as he spun and twisted his way into the end zone, at the 4:24 mark of the half. The point after kick from, #21 Dean Sarris GlenOak made this a 7-0 East lead.

The last 1:38 of the half would have enough excitement to keep the fans in the stand and hoping the 2nd half would bring as much. Things started with Cameron Cox, Alliance sacking Laney to bring up a 4th and nineteen for the West. Things go really exciting for the East when, Canton’s Cody Vacco was stripped of the football and Central’s Max Bruckner pounced on it in the end zone for a West touchdown. Caden Basham, Perry would tie things up at seven, with his point after kick. The West would end the half with two nice plays. The first came on a nice interception from Riley James, Canton South, then it was a James pass to Luke Fennell, Northwest for a ten yard gain.

With ten minute quarter being played in this one the game went by rather quickly and it seemed the 2nd half flew by.
In the third quarter Woody hooked up with Bryce Kelly Sandy Valley for a 14-yard East picked up, but the drive came to a quick stop shortly after. The West would record the last two plays of significance in the quarter. With the first coming on a fumble recovery by Nakoa Keefer, Massillon. Then it was a Laney to James 23-yard touchdown. James was able to softly land just inside the sideline as the 6-2 receiver showed some sweet feet work on the play. The point after making this a 14-7 game.

The final frame would see 17-points being scored. The first three came on a field goal from a 21-yard field goal by Sarris, to pull the west to within 14-10. The East would 9-yard touchdown run by Laney and then they got a 54-yard pick six by Fennell. The point after kick from Basham ended the scoring and give the West the 28-10 win.

UNOFFICIAL STATS
EAST
50 Plays
191 Yards
Passing 10-17- 2 Int’s

West
51 Plays
205 Yards
Passing 8-15

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