South prevails 16-13 on late FG
The South All Stars kicked a field goal as the clock ran out to defeat the North All Stars 16-13 Wednesday night in the 26th annual Rotary South All-Star Classic football game at Fort Myers High.
All the players from each of the Cape Coral schools were on the North squad roster.
Two quarterbacks-Dylan Bontrager from Cape Coral and Sage Attwood from Ida Baker-were part of the three-quarterback rotation for the North team.
“Switching QBs every third series makes it hard to get into a groove,” Attwood said.
Attwood ended up not only sharing the QB duties, but spent time at wide receiver. His intention after high school is to play for Colgate University.
Most Valuable Player for the North team was Rashad Washington of Island Coast, who had six catches for 101 yards, and the first North touchdown. It was a 45-yard strike from Jesse Lighthall.
“My teammates showed me a lot of love during practice,” Washington said. “The touchdown catch was a ‘slab,’ a slant and bubble. He (Lighthall) let me catch it to make a play. I saw that the defensive back was flat-footed, so I thought I could beat him to the corner,” Washington said.
He did. Washington plans to declare his intentions for playing college football soon.
Overall, the defenses looked more prepared than the offenses. Both teams had difficulty moving the ball. Both punters were very busy, with South punting six times and North five. In fact, South’s first touchdown came on a muffed punt by North, which Andre Thomas Cobb scooped up at the North 3 and ran it in.
There was some question whether the ball could be advanced, but referees granted the touchdown.
Later in the game, South returned the favor and North recovered South’s muffed punt. This time it was not advanced.
Mariner’s Josh Eugene scored North’s other touchdown on a three-yard sweep.
The score was set up by a beautifully run play where Bontrager lined up as a wide receiver, received the pitch from Attwood on the end around, stopped and found Washington on a 38-yard reception. Both teams tried long passes several times without success in the game. This was one that worked for North.
South tied the game at 13-13 with 4:46 left when Dylan DeGroot ran it in from one yard out on a quarterback keeper. Earlier, North had its PAT attempt blocked.
When South scored, they had a chance to take the lead, but their conversion was ruined by a high snap that the holder attempted to run it in only to be stopped at the 1-yard line.
With the game tied, North began driving the ball, advancing two first downs. They had first-and-10 at their own 43. Bontrager and his running back had a bad exchange, and the ball was fumbled. South recovered at the 25. South got one first down and managed to run the clock down to two seconds left.
It came down to a 28-yard field goal attempt by Bishop Verot’s Weston Cole. Of course, North called a time out to ice him. When they lined up the second time, Cole nailed it and South came away with the 16-13 victory.
North Stars0 0 7 6 – 13
South Stars7 0 0 9 – 16
First Quarter
S – Andre Thomas Cobb 3 fumble return (Weston Cole kick)
Third Quarter
N – Rashad Washington 45 pass from Jesse Lighthall (Grant Young kick)
Fourth Quarter
N – Josh Eugene 3 run (kick blocked)
S – Dylan DeGroot 1 run (run failed)
S – FG, Cole 28