A six-month layoff means it won’t be the cleanest form of football at times, but victory is always sought after among the group of 18-year olds playing their final game as a high schooler.
The West All-Stars continued their series’ dominance over the East with a goal-line stand as time expired, pulling out a 16-15 win in the Sertoma Grin Iron Classic on Friday night at JFK Stadium in Springfield.
“That was probably the ugliest win I think I’ve ever witnessed at any level in football,” said Kickapoo’s Malachi Stout, who was named West Offensive MVP thanks in part to a 50-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. “But, a win’s a win. I’m just relieved.”
Trailing 16-15 with less than two minutes remaining, the East drove from its own 36 to inside the West 5 following a 28-yard run by Willard’s Corbin White and a 32-yard completion from West Plains quarterback Sam Hall to Parkview running back Chaviz Nguyen.
From there, the East couldn’t reach the endzone on four plays, including a pair of quarterback sneaks from inside the West 1 with less than 30 seconds remaining. The West has won 13 of the 15 matchups against the East in the all-time series.
“I was nervous because I was on the outside and I knew I wasn’t going to get any action on that last play,” said Ash Grove’s Jackson Bagley, a cornerback who was named Defensive MVP for the West team. “But, I had faith in the team.”
The East reached the redzone on its previous drive as well, after Hall had a 31-yard completion to White and a 39-yard strike to Thayer’s Beau Kaffka. The drive stalled on downs at the West 18.
The two teams combined for six turnovers in the contest, four committed by the West.
“All the credit goes to our defense on that win,” Stout said. “Our offense was a little slow, but our defense kept us in it the entire game.”
Trailing 15-7 at halftime, the West got within 15-13 in the third quarter as Stout – an Arkansas State commit – busted a 50-yard touchdown run down the right sideline.
“I had only touched the ball twice previously before that play, and this time I knew if I could get to the edge, I’ll get loose,” said Stout, who finished with 77 yards on 8 carries. “My backside guard did a great job pulling and my play-side tackle did a great kicking out. I stretched it a little bit, hit one cut, went up field and it was just daylight.”
The West fumbled on its first play of the game, leading to a 2-yard touchdown run by Parkview’s Anthony Riley that gave the East an early 7-0 lead.
Joplin’s Colby Cornett answered for the West on the ensuing series, breaking free for a 66-yard touchdown run up the middle of the field. Late in the first quarter, Skyline’s Dylan Mountain found Thayer’s Beau Kaffka for a 29-yard touchdown pass that made it 13-7.
Reeds Spring’s Coleton Pomeroy recorded a safety in the second quarter to push the East’s lead to 15-7 at halftime.
Kaffka, who finished with 2 catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, was named East Offensive MVP for his efforts. Lebanon’s Connor Hicks had three interceptions to claim East Defensive MVP honors.
The West Defensive MVP honors went to Bagley, who had four pass breakups, forced a fumble and kicked what proved to be the game-winning field goal in the third quarter.
“I’ve always dreamed of coming here, ever since one of my former teammates at Ash Grove did,” Bagley said. “Now I got to experience it and I got an award, so it’s even better.”
West 16, East 15
West 7 0 9 0 — 16
East 13 2 0 0 — 15
First quarter
East – Riley 7 run (Carney kick)
West – Cornett 66 run (Bagley kick)
East – Mountain 29 pass to Kaffka (kick failed)
Second quarter
East – Pomeroy safety
Third quarter
West – Stout 50 run (2-point try failed)
West – Bagley 27 kick
