Mike Kafka was named the offensive MVP. | Tim Matias/Footballiance
The 85th Anniversary of the East – West Shrine Game made its way to the East Coast for the first time ever.
A spectacular day and a flawless field welcomed a dismal 8,345 fans to the stadium, but that did not stop the game from having an exciting and unexpected finish with the East Team, coached by Romeo Crennel, coming out on top by the final score of 13-10.
The final score did not however serve the game justice. The conclusion of the third quarter totaled only 332 yards between both squads and 6-3 score in favor of the East team.
Max Hall led a five play 78 yard drive ending in an eight-yard touchdown pass to Matt Moya. The drive was keyed by a 41 yard pass completion to Nathan Overbay. Following a Hunter Lawrence PAT the West Team led 10-6.
Mike Kafka then had just under seven minutes to put together an 89 yard drive to keep the East in contention. The 10-play drive stalled at the West’s 11 and was turned over on downs.
Now, with less than three minutes to go the West team needed only a few first downs to seal the deal. The team was however unsuccessful as the drive ended with a 40 second, three and out possession.
Kafka trotted back onto the field with less than two minutes to play and had the ball at his own 45, following a nine-yard punt return by Chris Chancellor.
Freddie Barnes secured three of his four receptions in the final 11 play 55 yard drive capped off by a two yard touchdown completion from Kafka to Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless.
He also snagged a one-handed six yard reception on a key third down play to keep the chains moving.
On the drive Kafka escaped what looked to be a sure sack at the 15 yard line and was able to move the ball to the three yard line. Kafka and Dennis Pitta improved their draft prospects the greatest deal in the game. Wide receiver Blair White also had a great game turning in the game’s best, seven catches for 93 yards.
Kafka received the offensive MVP honors, stealing the crown on the final game winning drive.
Linebacker O’Brian Schofield earned the defensive MVP honors. No, that is not a typo. Schofield was transformed from a defensive lineman to a linebacker, in five days. The 6’ 3” athlete forced the games first turnover, with an interception of Max Hall on the West Team’s opening drive.
Hall finished the game 7-12 for 119 yards, including an eight yard touchdown pass to Ryan Moya and the interception to Schofield.
His performance far outperformed that of any other West quarterback. Matt Nichols finished the game 3-6 with just 42 yards. The third quarterback for the West squad, Todd Reesing, had an even less impressive game going 2-5 for only 11 yards and an interception.
To make matters worse, every ball he threw had little touch and no spiral whatsoever.
O’Brian Schofield was named defensive MVP. | Tim Matias/Footballiance
Andre Dixon and Pat Paschall were the big gainers for the East and West squads, respectively.
Dixon ran for 24 yards on seven attempts and Paschall ran for 32 yards on 7 attempts. Neither team could get much of a rushing game going.
The long of the game was 16 yards by Pashcall, and no other back broke the 10 yard mark on a single attempt.
If there was a special team MVP award the prize would have gone to East punter Jeremy Boone.
Boone punted the ball five times for 229 yards, a 45 yard per punt average, a long punt of 57 yards and one punt killed at the two yard line.
Boone may have made the biggest draft impact of anyone. It’s tough to say a punter helped his case during a single game, but Boone did just that. Every punt he hit was dead on, with good hang time.
At the defensive back position Van Eskridge turned in an interception of Todd Reesing, but Jamar Wall was most impressive. He made six tackles, five of which were unassisted and also had a few broken up passes in key situations.
Not only did the Shrine Game showcase some of the nation’s top collegiate football talent, but the main focus of the game was to raise awareness for the 22 locations of the Shriners Hosptials for Children.
Patients at the Shriners Hospitals receive quality treatment for orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injury, cleft lip and palate.
Each year the Shriners Hospitals select two patients to represent the hospitals as ambassadors.
Nine-year-old Leigh Maria Dittman was selected as one.
Dittman has been a patient at Shriners since shortly after her birth. She was diagnosed with brittle bone disease.
Twelve-year-old Daniel Happy, of Shriners Hospital-Cincinatti was the second ambassador at the Shrine Game.
Happy sustained third degree burns on 95 percent of his body after a plane crashed into his home in 2007.
