The Facts

North beats South in Lone Star Bowl

By Joel Luna
The Facts

Published June 11, 2007

PASADENA — In the end, the fourth annual Lone Star Bowl Saturday night at Memorial Stadium came down to crucial mistakes.

The North, a team comprised of high school all-stars from across Texas, preserved a 21-14 win over the South, a squad made up of Houston-area all-stars.

With the tying touchdown just a yard away, the North defense barricaded the goal line on the South’s Chase Player of Brazoswood. With 16 seconds remaining, Player tried to sneak in from the 1-yard line, but was snuffed by the North defense.

“It was supposed to be a play- action where I was going to pitch the ball to one of my runners,” Player said. “But the defensive ends and linebackers smelled it out, so I had no choice but to try to score.”

The game featured 73 outgoing seniors, as Player was one of eight participating locals, including fellow Buc players Chris King and Josh Lewis; Angleton’s Gary Pinkney; and Alvin’s Stephen Barnes, Scott Roberts, Tom Hughes and Phillip Robins.

The South started its last drive with 6:03 remaining, and it took a couple of connections between former Brazoswood teammates Player and Lewis to keep it going. Facing a third and 21 from their own 25-yard line, Player found Lewis down the sideline for 22 yards. A late hit added another 15 yards, as the ball was placed at the 38 of the North.

With the North defense stiffening, the South again faced a crucial fourth and two at the 14-yard line when Player hit Lewis with a seven-yard gain down the sideline again.

A six-yard run by Player got the South as far as the 1-yard line before the North defense again came up big.

“I just got into some kind of rhythm in that last drive,” Player said. “I knew I could throw to Josh because we know each other well. It felt good to move around in the pocket since we didn’t throw much last year.”

Alternating series with Stafford’s Adrian Blackmon under center, Player looked in mid-season form on his first drive of the night. On his fourth play, Player threw a 50-yard completion to Pasadena Dobie’s Kenny Waines.

With the ball at the 6-yard line, Fort Bend Hightower’s Moses Lafayette scored to give the South a 7-0 lead after Leonardo Chavez from Galveston Ball made the extra point.

The South defense kept the North offense off the board until 2:31 before the half when Navasota’s Fernando Espinoza connected on a 33-yard field goal. At intermission the South took a slim 7-3 lead into the lockerroom.

In the second half, the North took advantage of the South’s miscues and took its first lead at 5:24 of the third period on a 6-yard score from Demario Adley from Dallas Lincoln. The North worked a short field after the South coughed up the ball at its own seven-yard line.

Trailing in the ball game for the first time, the South recaptured the lead early in the fourth period. Facing a third-and-16 for a first down, Blackmon heaved the ball down the right sideline as Waines — with several defenders on him — came down with the ball for a 40-yard touchdown.

After Chavez’s extra point the South again led 14-13 with 9:37 remaining.

Turnovers again hurt the South as the North defense converged on quarterback Blackmon. Blackmon was hit from behind by Woodville defensive lineman Michah Mitchel. Mitchel jarred the ball loose from Blackmon and Zack Gordon from Montgomery picked up the ball at the 5-yard line and ran it in for the go-ahead score.

Player finished the game with seven completions for 111 yards. Lewis finished with four catches for 57 yards.

Alvin’s Barnes had several tackles from his defensive end position, including a sack. He also put constant pressure on the quarterbacks from the North.