West bests East with second half run in All-State game
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake offensive lineman Auston Downs (center) blocks for the East during the 53rd annual East vs. West All-State football game at Lions Field.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald East quarterback Jack Colletto of Camas hurdles a defender during the first quarter of the 53rd annual East vs. West All-State football game at Lions Field.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Kamiakin's Zach Borisch prepares to throw the ball during the East vs. West All-State football game at Lions Field.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Woodinville's Michael Roth is brought down by the ankles during the East vs. West All-State football game.
MOSES LAKE — With over six months since the last meaningful prep football game coupled with temperatures in the high 80s, the 53rd annual East vs. West All-State football game was going to be about who wanted it more.
The West found another gear in the second half, scoring 19 unanswered points, en route to a 19-16 victory at Lions Field. The East had one final drive with 1:23 to play, but a fourth-and-11 pass by Kamiakin quarterback Zach Borisch fell incomplete,
“I just think they lasted longer than us,” Chiawana’s Trent Simpkins said. “They came out ready to play in the second half and we kind of laid low in the second half, but they kind of came out and punched us in the mouth.”
Simpkins’ last trip to Lions Field ended in a 50-6 blowout victory for Chiawana in the first game of the season back on Sept. 2. Friday night, that good fortune continued for Simpkins mid-way through the second quarter.
The West faced third-and-inches from the goal line, however, Gonzaga Prep’s Taj Hoard was able to strip the ball. Hoard’s pitch took a fortuitous bounce to Simpkins who caught it in stride and scored on a 99-yard sprint for the game’s first points.
“Taj tried pitching it and I think he tried pitching it to Chase (Gilbert) from Central Valley and it just bounced off the turf and landed straight in my hands so I guess I was just in the right place at the right time,” Simpkins said. “That was nice.”
Simpkins’ score highlighted an off first half.
Neither offense could move the ball, which was to be expected with only a week’s worth of practice.
With that in mind, the Bonney Lake coaching staff elected to take a free kick when a short punt landed the East at the West’s 38-yard line. Not the craziest decision when Central Valley’s Ryan Rehkow — the best kicker in the state — is on the roster.
Rehkow nailed a 48-yard field goal and the East led 10-0 at halftime.
The second half was all West until late in the fourth quarter.
Woodinville’s Michael Roth got the West on the scoreboard, catching an 11-yard fade with 8:09 left in the third quarter. Later, a 17-yard catch by Roth set up a three-yard rushing touchdown by Mariner’s Darius Brown.
Sean Gordon of Lake Washington and Tony Flor of O’Dea combined to sack Borisch in the end zone for a safety on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Auburn Riverside’s Andy Starkel canned A 32-yard field goal to cap the 19-0 run.
The East finally put together a drive with under six minutes to play in the fourth quarter, ending in a one-yard rushing touchdown by Camas’ Jack Colletto.
“It felt good to finally come together and actually like all of us offensive linemen actually get a push finally,” Moses Lake’s Auston Downs said. “As soon as I heard that whistle for a touchdown it felt amazing.”
The rally fell short as the East’s final drive stalled, but for Downs this week was about creating bonds with the guys he was able to meet from across Washington.
“I loved every single second with these guys,” he said.
Score by quarters
W — 0 0 14 5 19
E — 0 10 0 6 16
Scoring
E — Simpkins 99-yard fumble return (PAT good)
E — Rehkow 48-yard field goal
W — Roth 11-yard TD reception (PAT good)
W — Brown 3-yard TD run (PAT good)
W — Gordon/Flor safety
W — Starkel 32-yard field goal
E — Colletto 1-yard TD run (PAT blocked)