MECHANICSBURG – The East All-Stars used a balanced offensive attack and a late touchdown run to edge the West, 19-14, in a tightly contested Small School All-Star football game.
The game featured explosive passing plays, momentum swings, and a dramatic finish, as the East scored the deciding touchdown with just 31 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
The East scored on the very first play of the game. Notre Dame Green Pond quarterback Matt Bodnar II found Alex Clark for a 55-yard touchdown pass.
West answered early in the second quarter. Quarterback Jeff Thompson III connected with Drew Cook on a 71-yard touchdown strike with 11:06 left in the first half. The big-play tied the game at 7 after Braylen Phillips converted the extra point.
Cook proved to be a major weapon throughout the day, hauling in four catches for a game-high 126 receiving yards.
West regained momentum later in the second quarter when Brady Jones connected with Teek Wooding for a 26-yard touchdown pass, putting the West back in front 14-7.
Wooding finished with four receptions for 83 yards while helping stretch the field for the West offense.
Before halftime, the East cut into the lead after Bodnar again found Clark, this time for a 35-yard touchdown. A missed extra point kept the West narrowly ahead, 14-13 heading into halftime.
Clark turned in an impressive performance with four receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns, helping the East erase the early deficit. Later he was named the “Dan Alego East MVP”
It was a defense battle much of the second half. With time winding down in the fourth quarter, Brandon Way delivered the game-winning moment, breaking free for a 19-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds left to give the East a 19-14 lead. A failed two-point attempt mattered little as the East defense closed out the victory.
Bodnar paced the East offense through the air, throwing for 149 yards while completing 10 passes, while the East totaled 228 yards of offense. The West had 337 total yards, including 290 passing yards from Thompson III and Jones, but could not capitalize late.
Thompson III was named the “Gawen Stoker” West MVP.
Stats provided by Circle W Sports
| Teams (Small School) | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| East | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 19 |
| West | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
|
1st Quarter
|
|||||
| TD | 11:06 | Alex Clark 55 YD PASS from Matt Bodnar II (Cian Soliday kick). | 0 | 7 | |
| 2nd Quarter | |||||
| TD | 7:13 | Drew Cook 71 YD PASS from Jeff Thompson III (Braylen Phillips kick). | 7 | 7 | |
| TD | 3:25 | Teek Wooding 26 YD PASS from Brady Jones (Braylen Phillips kick). | 14 | 7 | |
| TD | 1:03 | Alex Clark 35 YD PASS from Matt Bodnar II (Cian Soliday kick missed). | 14 | 13 | |
| 4th Quarter | |||||
| TD | 0:31 | Brandon Way 19 YD RUN (Two-Point Conversion No Good). | 14 | 19
|