East County All-Stars rough up the West, 31-6

By Kyle Jorrey Acorn Sports Writer

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn HIT HARD--Tony Manzano of the West team coughs up the football when he's tackled by Curtis Bickley of the East team during Saturday's 31st annual East-West All-Star Football game.

It didn’t take long for visitors to last Saturday’s 31st annual Ventura County High School All-Star Football Game to figure out the offensive strategy of the East County team and its quarterback quartet of Bryan Walker (Agoura), Cody Holland (Moorpark), Chris Owens (Thousand Oaks) and Nolan McNair (Oak Park).

Take the snap, drop back a few steps and throw the ball.

And with Westlake’s Michael Stuart and Agoura’s Braden Lepisto as targets, it was hard to fault the strategy.

Throwing to the standout receivers early and often, and backed by a talented defense, the East All-Stars triumphed, 31-6, over the West at Ventura High’s Larrabee Stadium. It was the most lopsided victory in the event’s history and the third straight year the East County All-Stars have won. Approximately 3,200 fans were in attendance with proceeds going to the Ventura Downtown Lions Club’s Sight and Hearing Charities.

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn LAUNCHING THE PIGSKIN--Bryan Walker of Agoura throws the ball for the East team. Walker connected with Westlake's Michael Stuart, the night's most valuable player, on a 20-yard pass for the game's first touchdown.

"We were confident coming in with Stuart’s size and Braden’s speed," said Walker, who started the game for the East. "They made my job a lot easier, and everyone else did a great job."

Stuart, who was selected as the game’s MVP after making four catches for 84 yards and one touchdown, scored the East’s first points midway through the second quarter with his team down, 6-0. Although covered by two members of an athletic, West All-Stars secondary, Stuart beckoned for the ball anyway and used his 6-foot-5 frame to make a leaping grab on the pass from Owens.

The soon-to-be University of Southern California Trojan said that event was more than just an all-star game. His teammates wanted to win.

"We wanted to win this, and we played that way," Stuart said. "It was a physical game . . . and even though we didn’t practice that hard we came out here, knew all the plays and got the job done."

Not to be outdone, Lepisto took home the game’s offensive MVP honors, in large part due to an 80-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter that put the East ahead, 14-6, after McNair’s extra point. Playing the role of player/coach, Lepisto informed the East’s coaching staff and his quarterback of a flaw in the West defense that Holland quickly exploited.

"They had their top guys, (Terrail) Lambert and (Josh) Pinkard, doubling on Stuart, and the corner on my side was backing off so I knew we could run a hitch and go," Lepisto said. "Just like we thought he bit up on the hitch and I got deep. Cody (Holland) didn’t throw it right away because he was being pressured but he rolled out perfectly and made a great throw."

Holland, a utility player who wasn’t even sure he was going to get reps at quarterback, said he enjoyed the chance to play pitch and catch with the county’s best, guys like Lepisto.

"He’s a helluva of an athlete," Holland said of Lepisto. "I knew if I threw it anywhere close to him he was going to make the catch."

After spending the last few weeks with the same guys he used to compete against on the field, Holland said the group gelled together under a desire to represent the East County.

"It was just like a family. It was brotherhood out there," Holland said. "We took this game seriously because it’s a pride factor. I mean, the East versus the West side and we wanted to win."

On defense, the East, led by Oak Park defensive end Andrew Henggeler and linebackers Joey Larocque (Agoura) and Greg Newman (Westlake), never let the West’s quarterbacks get comfortable—leading to three interceptions. Starting in place of Westlake’s Jimmy Miller, this year’s Division IV Player of the Year, who was injured in a practice before the game, Henggeler recorded two sacks and set the tone for an aggressive East defense.

Playing like a team that hadn’t been hit hard in six months, the West amounted only 83 total yards—40 on the final three plays of the game, and made four drive-ending turnovers.

Moorpark Head Coach Tim Lins, whose staff coached the East club for a month leading up to the game, said it was an all-around effort for his team.

"We had a bunch of great players on both sides of the ball," he said. "Really, there was great talent on both teams, but we got some breaks, got a big play from Lepisto and they had some turnovers on the other side that I think were the difference."

Lins said he was impressed with the players’ willingness to take on whatever task he asked of them, noting that Westlake defensive end David Winer played tight end nearly all game, in addition to his role on defense.

"From the beginning, every guy was willing to do whatever it took to be a part of the team," Lins said. "This was a great group to work with and it was a lot of fun. And it’s for a good cause."

Also reaching the end zone for the East County in the one-sided victory were Simi Valley running back Laydell Shelton and Oak Park safety Mike Christiansen.

Christiansen’s score came late in the fourth quarter when he stepped in front of a West receiver, intercepted the pass and took the ball 37 yards to the end line.

After the rout, Lepisto couldn’t help but take one more jab at the cross-county rivals.

"I’m sure they thought they were going to come in here and take it to us but we definitely had most of the talent—three of the four teams that were in the semifinals were on our side of the ball," Lepisto said. "We knew we had great players and we took it to them."