Football in June?
That was the scene at Burleson ISD Stadium on Saturday, June 25th, when North
American All Stars hosted its Inaugural EAST/WEST Showcase Classic that included 2011 All District graduates from
Dallas and surrounding cities playing All District graduates from Fort Worth and surrounding cities.
The focus behind the event
was to initiate an All District type of All Star game involving only athletes from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
“San Antonio has one. Houston has one. Why can’t we have one? We have the most talented
athletes being coached by the most talented staffs in the country right here in the heart of the state with the biggest name
for high school football”, states Rusty Bentley, Executive Director for North American All Stars.
“I love it and think
it’s great. I wish I would have been able to promote it more” said Trinity High School Head Football Coach,
Steve Lineweaver, who went to the WEST team locker room at half time to high five players that he had in the game. There
were many other high profile players and coaches from Aledo, Southlake Carroll, and Frisco Liberty just to name a few.
The game itself was action packed. The EAST, coached by Eric Ezar and the W.T. White Longhorn staff,
started the scoring with a 47 yard field goal from Glen Rose’s Tanner Tongate. After a few big defensive plays,
the EAST scored again but the extra point failed.
The WEST, coached by Jason Tucker and the Burleson Elks coaching staff, came back
with a touchdown pass from Granbury’s Tyler Dixson but the EAST blocked the extra point and took it the distance for
two points.
Just before halftime, the WEST scored again on a muffed punt snap when James Harper, punting
for the WEST, picked it up and took it 60 yards for a touchdown. Again the point after failed and again the EAST took
it all the way to their end zone for another two points. After a 13-12 halftime lead by the EAST, the WEST fought back
with 14 unanswered points to win it 26-13.
“I want to thank you all for having the game for us” said
Scott Caldwell of Southlake Carroll, playing for the WEST, “After we lost to (Denton) Gyer in the fall, I remember crying
as I walked off the field hugging my coach and thinking that it was all over. It sure feels a lot better ending it this
way”.
Plans for next year have already
started and talks with sponsors are in the works. “We have been trying to get this game off for three years and now
there will be no looking back” Bentley said. This year’s game was sponsored by Dan Carey’s Sporting Goods,
Sports Authority, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Subway, Dominos Pizza, Roger Bruce Sporting Goods, and Dickey’s Bar-B-Que.
(Photo courtesy Staci Otts photos).
