Linfield Christian’s Burn leads local players win in the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association All-star Classic
The second of the evening featured a pair of squads representing Riverside County; the North West team led by Riverside Ramona High School Head Coach Ken Muchinskie, and the East team under the direction of Linfield Christian Head Coach DeChon Burns.
The opening quarter was dominated by the defenses as field position was traded back and forth. Punter Jonathan Trujillo of Lindfield Christian stood out as he pinned the West deep in their own territory with a pair of punts that were downed inside the 10-yard line- one of them even bounced out of bounds sideways after hitting the five-yard line.
The first scoring breakthrough occurred early in the second quarter, when running back Kai Thompson out of Murrieta Mesa got loose for a 28-yard run that put the East in the red zone. They settled for a Cody Williams (Murrieta Valley) field goal from 25 yards out to make it 3-0.
West quarterback John Ober (Patriot HS) connected a couple of times with wide receiver Major Lee (Roosevelt HS), but failed to score.
Late in the second quarter, East quarterback Tim Jakell (Lake Elsinore) found wide out Kelley Coleman (Temecula Valley) on a crossing route, which he took to the end zone for a 30-yard score to make it 10-0.
In the third, Coleman showed up the defensive side of the ball with an interception and return that put the East in scoring position. Jakell would call his own number, and sneak in for touchdown on first and goal from the 1 yard line to stake his team to a 17-0 advantage.
Late in the quarter, with the West moving down the field led by runs from Ramona’s Isaiah Baker and catches by Notre Dame’s Jake Kennel, West linebacker Metoriah Faoliu (Vista Murrieta) came up with a pick in the red zone to stop the West threat.
On the next West possession, they got the spark they needed in the form a elite-level one-handed catch by Norco’s Jorge Alvarado with a defender draped all over him that got the team in the red zone at the East 19-yardline. Arlington’s Jamon McGlory finished the drive with a pair of powerful runs, the first for 10 yards, followed by a 9-yard scamper for a score to make it interesting, 17-7.
An inspired West defense held the East limited yardage, and got the ball back. Mac Kennel (Notre Dame) was under center for the West, and connected with Noah Bagardus for a key catch that put the West in the red zone. Lee then got around the corner on a reverse to score from 15 yards out making it, 17-14.
With less than five minutes to play, wide receiver B.J. Davis (San Jacinto) made a clutch grab along the sideline on third and 18 to keep the East drive alive and chew up some clock.
When the West did get the ball back, they were still trailing, 17-14, with under two minutes to play. They called the reverse for Lee again, and it worked, getting them across midfield into field goal range with time for 3-4 more plays. However on the next play, the West fumbled, and Isaiah Hobson (Lake Elsinore) pounced on it for the East. Hobson’s recovery allowed the East to lineup in victory formation, hanging on for the 17-14 win.
Kelley Coleman of Temecsal Valley was named MVP and also received the scholar-athlete award scholarship. “Feels great to the win for my teammates.” On making plays on both sides of the ball, “I love to play both sides of the ball, and be out there to do as much as I can”. “It was great to be out here, especially with the new guys, making new friends, having bonds for the future.” Wants to be a chiropractor.
Winning coach DeChon Burns, “It great for the young men, this is their last high-school football game ever”… “See them come together in four days and bond like they did was awesome.” “These kids were so receptive to our coaching, and really listened, which was refreshing now days.”
Runner-up Coach Muchinskie, “The outcome is what is, but were out here to have a good time, and get the kids some exposure.”… “We were a little jittery in the first half, but I’m proud of how they responded in the second half.” …“When I was texting these kids, so many of them were so happy to receive the invitation and were so respectful in how they communicated with me, they didn’t know me at all when this started” … “They were very humble, it was a great week of practice, I enjoyed it and I know they did as well.”
Correspondent, Jeremiah Smith
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