MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / July 27, 1999

BATON ROUGE – The East All-Stars turned the tables on the West, using a strong defensive effort to break a five-game losing streak in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association/Coca-Cola annual All-Star Football game with a 13-6 victory Friday night at LSU’s Tiger Stadium.

The East held the West to 175 total yards and Kentwood’s Demetrius Hookfin returned an interception 25 yards to key the win. The West hadbeen the dominate defensive team of late in the series, allowing just a total of 22 points over the last five games.

Hookfin, who also had four unassisted tackles, was named the Defensive MVP of the game. Clinton’s Rodney Stinson, who rushed for 64 yards on sixcarries and scored the game’s first touchdown on a 16-yard run in the second quarter, was the Offensive MVP.

The River Parishes representatives fared quite well in the game. St.Charles Catholic’s John Price punted six times for a 40.7 yard average andset up the first touchdown with a 52-yard punt that was downed at the 1- yard line.

West St. John’s Torrian Thomas and Pendarvis Morris were among theleading tacklers for the West. Thomas had five tackles, two solo and twobehind the line of scrimmage. Morris finished with four unassistedtackles, one behind the line. Riverside’s Dustin Zimmer had three tackles,two unassisted for the East. St. James’ Jeremy Harry opened a number ofholes up the middle. St. Charles Catholic’s Kenny Ordeneaux and Lutcher’sAndy Tramonte also saw action in the game.

“The defense played good,” Price said. “With two really good teams andonly one week to practice, it usually comes down to the defense.

“I had fun playing. I will never forget this experience for the rest of mylife. I made some good friends, both East and West, and I hope to stay intouch with them.”Thomas echoed Price’s sentiments.

“I had fun tonight,” Thomas said. “I made a lot of friends and I wish themall the best of luck.”Morris said the competition was even better than he expected.

“I had fun out there today,” Morris said. “The bad part was losing but Istill had fun. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I was glad to bepart of it.”Harry said the East came out more aggressive than the West on defense.

But despite the loss, it was an experience he would never forget.

“I have a lifetime of memories,” Harry said.

With the East ahead, 7-6, with 6:25 left in the game, the West took over at its 23-yard line. On the first play, Barbe’s Ryan Corcoran tried a slantpass to the left side.

Hookfin, an LSU signee, stepped in front of the pass and took it in untouched. Price’s extra point was no good, leaving the score 13-7 with6:19 remaining.

“It was a mental mistake,” West coach Laury Dupont of West St. John said.”He should have thrown it away. They made the big play and we didn’t. Butour guys didn’t quit. I was very proud of their effort.”The West had an opportunity to tie the score late in the game as Brusly’s Norman LeJeune returned a punt 26 yards to the West 46. On fourth-and-4from the 47, Crowley’s Nick Dugas kept up the middle for a 19-yard pickup to the East 28 with 1:42 left.

Dugas picked up another first down to the 16 on fourth-and-1. But threeplays later, Dugas tried another sneak and was hit by Ponchatoula’s Daniel Giles. Dugas fumbled with Brother Martin’s Keith Turner falling on the ballfor the East with 15 seconds left.

Livonia’s Jeremy Coleman had 61 yards on 12 carries as the East gained 182 total yards in the game. Archbishop Hannan’s Allen Cox completed allthree of his passes for 30 yards. Ouachita Christian’s Eric Edwards caughttwo passes for 21 yards.

For the West, Breaux Bridge’s Domanick Davis rushed for 77 yards on 13 carries while Dugas had 75 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts. Dugasand Corcoran combined to complete just one of their 11 passes for 16 yards.

The West pulled to within 7-6 with 7:57 remaining in the contest thanks to two big penalties against the East. On second-and-1 from the 17,LaGrange’s Carey Keys was hit for a 3-yard loss but a face-masking penalty gave the West a first down at the 29.

On the next play, Davis carried for 10 yards with a late hit adding another 15 yards, giving the West a first down at the East 46.

A 9-yard run by Davis and a 11-yard draw by Dugas gave the West a first down at the 21. Two plays later, Dugas hit Chris Lewis for an apparenttouchdown but a holding call brought the play back. Terrebonne’s ClaudeJohnson answered with a 21-yard gain off the Statue of Liberty on the next play, putting the ball at the 10-yard line.

Dugas went for 8 yards and then took the draw off right tackle for the score with 7:57 remaining. St. Thomas More’s John Corbello’s extra pointwas no good but the East was called for roughing the kicker. Dupontdecided to go for two but Dugas’ pass to Vermilion Catholic’s John Thompson fell incomplete, leaving the score at 7-6.

The East squad got on the scoreboard for the first time in two years late in the second quarter.

After a 52-yard Price punt was downed at the West 1-yard line, the East defense held and took over a its own 46-yard line with 2:52 left in the half.

On third-and-6 from midfield, Coleman swept right, broke two tackles and took off downfield before being pushed out of bounds by Thomas at the 26.

A pass from Cox to Neville’s Cameron Glenn in the left flat gave the East a first down at the 16-yard line. On the next play, Stinson bulled up themiddle the score. Price’s extra point gave the East a 7-0 lead with 33seconds left.

The East started the game at its 20 and drove 64 yards in 16 plays, taking 8:38 off the clock behind the running of Coleman and Stinson.

Stinson went off left tackle for 15 yards to the West 39, and two plays later, went around left end for 21 yards to the West 13. Coleman picked upa first down to the 3-yard line with a 3-yard gain on fourth-and-3.

But the West defense then stepped up. Morris blitzed into the backfield tostop Coleman for a 4-yard loss on first down. After Thomas combined withOpelousas’ Joshua Kador to stop Coleman for a 3-yard loss, Keys sacked Sarah Reed’s Earin Bridges at the 16-yard line. Price’s 33-yard field goalattempt was wide.

The West took over at its 20 and drove to its 40 as the quarter ended. Onthe first play of the second quarter, Davis took the option left for 30 yards to the East 27. This time it was the East squad coming up with thestop as Claude Johnson was stopped for a 7-yard loss and Dugas was sacked by Turner for a four-yard loss.

Morris and Patterson’s Derace James each had four unassisted tackles to lead the West in the first half.

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