Mechanicsburg – Brandon Way scored on a 19-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds left to lift the East Squad past the West Squad, 19-14, Sunday afternoon at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field.
Taking over at their 33-yard line with just over three minutes to play, the East, which trailed 14-13, drove 67 yards in five plays, capped by the Lancaster Catholic standout and Villanova commit Way’s 19-yard touchdown that proved the difference.
Way rushed for 45 yards on eight carries in the contest.
The West was able to drive the football to the 36-yard line on the plus side of the field before Jeff Thompson’s desperation heave to the end zone was broken up, sealing the victory for the Eastern guys.
Thompson, who won a state title with Clairton back in December, passed for a game-high 280 yards and a touchdown on 11 of 21 passing, earning him the Western MVP.
His 71-yard touchdown pass to Drew Cook early in the second quarter tied the game at seven. Cook of South Allegheny caught four passes for a game-high 126 yards.
However, it was the Notre Dame Green Pond duo of wide receiver Alex Clark and quarterback Matt Bodnar that provided the majority of the spark for the East Squad.
The Crusader teammates connected on a 55-yard touchdown pass on the opening play of the game, giving their side a 7-0 lead with just 54 seconds gone.
With 63 seconds to play in the half, Clark hauled in a 35-yard touchdown from Bodnar. A failed extra point kept the West Squad in front 14-13 at halftime.
The West held the slim halftime lead thanks to Penn Cambria’s Brady Jones connecting with Clairton’s Teek Wooding on a 26-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Wooding caught three passes for 83 yards.
Bodnar completed 8-of-10 passes for 149 yards and two scores, while Clark’s four receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns earned him East Side MVP honors.
“They’re good guys, I mean, at the first practice, you know, nobody really wanted to talk to each other. Nobody really knew each other,” Clark said. “But then, after the second practice, everyone was friends. These guys are the best. I love my family. Oh, it feels like I’m at home.”
Box Score
TEAM
1
2
3
4
F
West
0
14
0
0
14
East
7
6
0
6
19
Date: May 17, 2026 (6th Annual Game)
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Chapman Field (Mechanicsburg)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
West
East
TD
11:06
Alex Clark 55 YD PASS from Matt Bodnar II (Cian Soliday kick).
0
7
2nd Quarter
West
East
TD
07:13
Drew Cook 71 YD PASS from Jeff Thompson III (Braylen Phillips kick).
7
7
TD
03:25
Teek Wooding 26 YD PASS from Brady Jones (Braylen Phillips kick).
14
7
TD
01:03
Alex Clark 35 YD PASS from Matt Bodnar II (Cian Soliday kick missed).
14
13
4th Quarter
West
East
TD
00:31
Brandon Way 19 YD RUN (Two-Point Conversion No Good).
