CONWAY – After taking the lead in the final minute, the West All-Stars made one last defensive stand to win a low-scoring game.
The West All-Stars beat the East 19-14 in the Arkansas High School Coaches’ Association All-Star Football game at Estes Stadium in Conway.
Two Pine Bluff graduates, defensive tackle Leon Williams and offensive lineman Makyrin Goodwin, played for the East. They were joined by two White Hall alumni, defensive back Braeden Bell and offensive lineman Sema’J Walker.
Bell said he was happy when he found out he had been selected for the all-star game.
“It was a great experience for me to also go out with a bang for my senior year,” Bell said. “Also ended it off in the all-star game. Also got big dreams in track right now. I’m committed to [the University of Arkansas at Little Rock]. It may be a hard loss right now, but it’s good ways to bounce back, though.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Most of the all-stars from southeast Arkansas played on the East team. Woodlawn offensive lineman Brayden Kitchens was the lone southeast Arkansan on the West.
The West struck first, scoring on its first drive. Hot Springs wide receiver T.J. Brogden caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Van Buren quarterback Bryce Perkins to take a 7-0 lead. The East answered with a 1-yard touchdown run from West Memphis quarterback Keland Mills, and the game was tied at 7 at halftime.
Both teams scored in the third quarter, but a missed extra point left the East in front 14-13 entering the fourth. Mineral Springs running back K.T. Thomas scored on a 2-yard run with 56 seconds remaining to give the West the lead. The East had two plays from the West 3-yard line but couldn’t connect on a pass as time expired.
Bell intercepted a fourth down pass in the second quarter. One the resulting drive, Monticello wide receiver Quay Rhodes caught a 17-yard pass to get the East into West territory, though the drive ultimately stalled just outside the red zone.
Williams made just one tackle, but it was a big one. He sacked the West quarterback with 7 seconds remaining in the half for a loss of seven yards. Monticello safety Tejon Tensley also had a tackle in the game.
Warren linebacker Ervin Rivera made three tackles, two of them solo. Hamburg graduate Stratton Herring joined Goodwin and Walker on the East offensive line.
Both East specialists hailed from southeast Arkansas. Fordyce kicker Andy Luna made both of his extra point attempts, while Brandon Urbina from Crossett punted three times with a long of 43 yards. He placed one punt inside the West’s 20-yard line.
One of the stars of the game, though not from a southeast Arkansas school, will head to Pine Bluff this fall.
Little Rock Parkview offensive guard Randall Davis, who played for the West, was named the offensive lineman of the game. Davis signed with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and will join the Golden Lions for fall camp.
Davis said he brings UAPB a hard worker.
“I came from a two-time championship high school team,” Davis said. “I know how to work hard, how to get it. I just want to come and start a pride. My whole family went to UAPB, and it’ll mean a lot if we come back and build it back up with Coach [Alonzo Hampton].”