#TNAllStar: West Escapes Past East, 37-27

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Some of the best talent from our #TN2025 competed in Clarksville on Saturday in the East vs. West All-Star game where the West Squad came out with the victory after a hard fought, exciting matchup versus the East team. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The West Squad looked strong early but had to hold off a pesky East Team late to pull out the 37-27 win at the 2024 TNFCA All-Star game in Clarksville, Tennessee. It was a spirited ball game that saw plenty of explosive plays along with some strong hits on defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of defense, the West Squad flashed strong on the side of the ball early on then made plays late to hang on to victory. The East Team actually scored first, leading 3-0 after a short yard field goal from Gallatin kicker and South Carolina signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1182179' first='Max' last='Kelley']</strong>. After those three points, the West Squad took over and began to impose their will.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1580377,"width":"381px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/20241214_125816.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1580377" style="width:381px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a long pass to Houston wideout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='540017' first='Derrick' last='Miller']</strong>, the West Squad got on the board, going up 7-3 with a short yard run from Bartlett and Mississippi St. signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1002741' first='Geron' last='Johnson']</strong>. They immediately scored again after a pick six from East Nashville defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1159809' first='Antoni' last='Morton']</strong>, where he read the pass well, jumped the route and used his speed to outrun his opponents.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The East team would put another field goal on the board from Kelley but the West Squad looked like it was starting to take over early in the 2nd quarter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holding a 17-6 lead, the West Squad extended their lead further after an excellent catch and run from Germantown senior wideout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309130' first='Cameron' last='Ledlow']</strong>. The Red Devils pass catcher took the short pass from quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='534630' first='Kade' last='Butler'] </strong>then raced down the sideline with his blazing speed to run past defenders and into the end zone to push West ahead, 24-6.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At this point, it looked like the West Squad would continue to dominate but the East team wouldn't go quietly. On their next offensive drive, East used a hurry up offense to speed up the West defense and it worked.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After several passes to push the East team into the opposition's side of the field, Anderson Co. quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='650014' first='Landen' last='Hensley'] </strong>threw a beautiful pass into the corner of the end zone where he found an open <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='819506' first='Ke'Darean' last='Fletcher'] </strong>for the score. It was an excellent pass and read from Hensley as he dropped it in the bucket for the Riverdale wideout. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now sitting at 24-13, the East team was back in the game but needed to continue working. They did just that as on their next offensive possession, Science Hill linebacker and VMI signee, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='842802' first='Baylor' last='Necessary'] </strong>found paydirt after a short yard goal line run. That rushing score made things interesting headed into the break, as the East team crawled all the way back to trail at halftime, 24-20.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It looked like we were in-store for an excellent second half between two talented teams and that's what we got but it was a defensive affair rather than high scoring.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The West squad came out of the break an immediately established themselves as the better team as three plays into the second half, Butler threw it deep to BGA wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1002764' first='Arnett' last='Hayes, Jr'] </strong>and the Wildcats playmaker used his athleticism and speed to run past the East defense to push the West lead out to 30-20.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The East team took the ball and continued their good ways on offense, driving the ball into West territory until Morton reared his head again, picking off <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219402' first='Tyler' last='Travers'] </strong>for his second interception of the game. The Eagles defensive back was outstanding on this day, eventually earning game MVP for his efforts.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We moved into the 4th quarter with the West squad holding a ten point lead but the game was over yet. After trading offensive possessions, the East team put together a good drive that was capped by a short yard QB draw from Travers to make the score 30-27.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1580376,"width":"393px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/20241214_134546.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1580376" style="width:393px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Up to this point, it was a back and forth affair and an exciting All-Star contest that saw us headed to a close finish. We almost got there but the West Squad held strong throughout the 4th quarter to hold off a stingy East team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After Johnson's 2nd rushing score of the day, the West squad pushed their lead out to 37-27 and wouldn't look back. Their defense held strong the rest of the way, receiving excellent play from the front seven, especially from guys like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1282466' first='Moses' last='Byrd'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611956' first='Jhrevious' last='Hall']</strong>, who combined for a late sack to shut down an East offensive drive.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was all but over but the East team had one last gasp but ran out of time. This turned out to be quite the competitive All-Star game that wasn't completely settled until the 4th quarter. The West Squad just had too much firepower on offense and too much talent on defense for the East team to get past.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - -</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East vs. West Game MVP's</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game MVP: </strong>(DB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1159809' first='Antoni' last='Morton'] - </strong>East Nashville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Off. MVP: </strong>(RB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1080185' first='Noah' last='Spencer'] </strong>- USJ</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Co-Def. MVP's: </strong>(Edge) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1282466' first='Moses' last='Byrd'] </strong>- Kirkwood, (DE) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1136613' first='Reid' last='Mitchell'] </strong>- Marshall Co.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Special Teams MVP: </strong>(WR/KR) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='822698' first='Ronye' last='Watson'] </strong>- Chatt. Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1580372,"width":"416px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/20241214_155010.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1580372" style="width:416px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->