Hutchinson running back Ja’Mon Cotton (27) was named the game's Most Outstanding Player for the West. (Photo by Everett Royer, KSportImages.com))
By Kpreps.com
Posted: July 29, 2012 - 2:37 PM
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The 39th annual Kansas Shrine Bowl Game ended in a familiar fashion as the West held on to edge the East 14-7 at Welch Stadium in Emporia.
It was the seventh straight win in the series for the West, which now holds a 25-13-1 advantage.
The game featured missed opportunities by each side, and the two biggest offensive plays of the game almost didn’t happen.
The East’s initial drive stalled after two first downs, and the West went right to work. Deante Burton (Manhattan) and Tanner Fisher (Buhler) ripped off consecutive runs of 13 and 14 yards on the West’s first two plays.
Two plays later, Fisher was unable to handle an option pitch from quarterback Matt Reed (Wichita Heights). Multiple white jerseys from the East seemingly formed a pile over the ball, but West left tackle Darius Peterson (Salina South) emerged with the ball to secure the possession.
On the next play, Reed hit Collin Sexton (Abilene) on a 54-yard touchdown pass down to put the green and gold on top. Reed would connect with Jordan Hart (McPherson) on the two-point conversion to give the West an 8-0 lead at the 7:27 mark of the first quarter.
The game would stay that way until midway through the second quarter. Facing a fourth-and-four at their own 40 yard line, the East punting unit drew the West offsides – one of four times in the game.
Given new life with the first down, East quarterback Garrett Fugate (Blue Valley Northwest) hit wide receiver/quarterback Michael Glatczak (Centralia) on a 55-yard touchdown pass on the next play. Nick Walsh’s (Lyndon) PAT pulled the East within 8-7.
The remainder of the first half was full of missed opportunities from both sides.
Anthony Buffalomeat (Lawrence) intercepted a double pass attempt from Burton and set up the East all-stars inside West territory. After consecutive runs by Fugate set up a third-and-short, the East misfired on two pass attempts to turn the ball over on downs.
The East missed another opportunity late in the half when Walsh’s 31-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
The West threatened to widen their lead in the third quarter as Trent Stucky (Sedgwick) connected with Kole Schankie (Madison) on a 33-yard gain to the East 11-yard line. Consecutive false start and delay of game penalties left the West facing a second-and-twenty from the East 21. Stucky could not connect on three straight pass attempts, squandering the threat.
Finally, early in the fourth quarter the West broke through.
Schankie hauled in another big catch; this time an 18-yarder from Reed to set the West up at the East 21.
A pass interference penalty two plays later gave the West first-and-goal at the nine, and Ja’Mon Cotton (Hutchinson) went virtually untouched on the next play to put the West up 14-7.
Fugate connected on five passes on the ensuing possession as the East drove to the West’s 24 yard line. But on third-and-ten, Gabe Luna (Garden City) stayed home on a reverse and threw Glatczak for a 14-yard loss forcing a punt.
The East would get once more chance with 3:55 remaining. On third-and-eleven, Fugate scrambled out of the pocket and heaved a long pass downfield that went through the hands of Logan Miner (Rock Creek) at the West 16.
The West would take over on downs and run out the clock.
Cotton, who was added to the roster as a late replacement, was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player from the West after finishing with 62 yards rushing and a touchdown on 12 carries. He has signed to play at Pittsburg State University this fall.
Fugate earned the East Most Outstanding Player honors by completing 16 of 33 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 15 times for 12 yards. Fugate has signed to play at the University of Central Missouri this fall.
Stats:
Rushing (attempts – yards)
East 25-(-6); West 33-126
Passing (completions – attempts – yards)
East 19-39-232; West 8-15-132
Total Yards
East 226; West 258
Individual Rushing:
East: Fugate 15-12, Derek Gifford (Emporia) 2-4, Justin Fulks (Blue Valley) 2-(-1), Glatczak 6-(-21)
West: Cotton 12-62, Burton 3-43, Fisher 5-15, Stucky 4-10, Derrick Decker (Rose Hill ) 5-4, Reed 4-(-8)
Individual Passing:
East: Fugate 16-33-1-0, 206 yards; Glatczak 3-6, 26 yards
West: Reed 3-3-1-0, 79 yards; Stucky 3-6, 47 yards; Decker 2-5, 6 yards; Burton 0-1-0-1
Individual Receiving:
East: Glatczak 5-87-1, Miner 6-61, Tyus Jacob (Topeka) 3-28, Gage Steckel 1-25, Fulks 2-19, Timmy Miller (Riverside) 1-9, Conor Middleton (Olathe Northwest) 1-3
West: Sexton 2-63-1, Schankie 2-51, Burton 3-18, Hart 1-0
Individual Defense:
Sacks: East – Austin Veach (Doniphan West) 2, West – Joey Capul (Garden Plain) 2, Andrew Casey (Plainville), Najahuan Tipton-Wyile (Hutchinson)
Tackles for Loss (TFL): East – Jared Douglas (Olathe South), Marcus Williams (Gardner-Edgerton), Thomas Wittman (Topeka Hayden), West – Bradyn Butcher (Bishop Carroll), Jacob Davis (Wichita Northwest), B.J. Dean (Pratt), Gabe Luna (Garden City)
Interceptions: East – Anthony Buffalomeat (Lawrence)
