By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

The annual All-Star game between standouts from the River and Bayou Regions has developed a reputation for dramatic finishes, and last Friday’s clash was no exception as the River Region captured a 16-14 win on the leg of Destrehan kicker Daniel Cimino.

Cimino connected on a 42-yard field goal to deliver the win to his team with no time left in the game.

It came on the back of an onside kick recovery with just 31 seconds left in the game. St. Charles Catholic’s Jeffrey Hall recovered after the River Region had pulled within one, 14-13, but missed a two-point conversion attempt.

The Bayou region led 14-0 at one point on Trevon Smith’s (South Terrebonne) 72-yard touchdown pass to Ellender’s Houston Chapman and Aaron Thomas’ (Thibodaux) blocked punt, scoop and score of 17 yards.

The River Region rallied in the second half. St. Charles Catholic’s Marcus Hall cut the lead in half when his 8-yard touchdown run made it 14-7 early in the fourth quarter.

The River Region drew within one on Hall’s second score of the night, an 4-yard reception from Hahnville’s Ronnie Green.

Green attempted to hit East St. John’s Rashad Green on a two-point conversion pass to win but the play was ruled incomplete when the receiver was ruled out of bounds.

But then came the onside kick.

Green hit West St. John’s Jarius Moll for a 20-yard gain, and a delay penalty on the Bayou set up Cimino’s game-winning boot, sending his team home with a win.

Ronnie Green finished the game as the River Region’s MVP after coming on in relief of East St. John’s Darion Monroe, who was injured in the first half. Green accounted for 164 yards passing and running to go with a touchdown.