Gerry Steele
Of the Baker City Herald
The West, which ended an eight-game losing streak last year, won its second straight East-West Shrine All-Star Football Game Saturday at Bulldog Memorial Stadium.
Using a stifling defense and a solid offense, the West posted a 21-7 victory over the East in the 50th-annual East-West game before approximately 4,000 spectators.
The East still leads the overall series 24-23-3. Scappoose running back Eliot Vinzant and Reedsport quarterback Chad Harrington led the West offense.
Harrington completed 8 of 23 passes for 110 yards, and ran for a third-quarter touchdown that gave the West a 14-0 edge. Vinzant, the Class 3A player of the year, carried the ball 13 times for 32 yards and a touchdown. He also intercepted a pass while playing defensive back.
The most exciting play of the game was provided by the West’s Uni Prenevost of Oakridge.
In the fourth quarter, Prenevost scooted around the right end and raced past the East defense for a 71-yard touchdown. That gave the West a 21-0 lead. Prenevost led all runners with 101 yards on four carries. The West finished with 311 total yards on offense. Meanwhile, the West defense was shutting down the East running game. The East managed just five yards rushing on 39 carries. Vale’s Cody Anthony led the East with 21 yards on nine carries. The strength of the West defense showed in the fact that the East drove inside West territory on 11 of its 16 drives, but managed just one score. Riddle quarterback Craig Schofield connected with Glendale’s Ryan Owens for a 36-yard touchdown with 5:18 left in the game. Neither team scored in the first quarter. The West got on the scoreboard on the third play of the second period when Vinzant scored.
Harrington rolled to his right on the option, and as he was being hit, lateraled to Vinzant who scooted into the end zone. Kyle Bachmeir of Douglas added the conversion kick. The West led 7-0 at halftime.
An interception set up the West’s second touchdown on its first drive of the second half.
Taking over at midfield, the West drove 50 yards on 14 plays to increase its lead to 14-0.
The West used 12 running plays on the drive, the final one Harrington’s 1-yard dive off right tackle for the touchdown. Baker quarterback Derek Riggs was 4-12 for 41 yards and an interception in a reserve role for the East.
Pine-Eagle running back Judd Wright gained just one yard on two carries in limited offensive action.
Powder Valley’s Brody Turner saw action as a defensive back and receiver. The East-West game, celebrating its golden anniversary, is the second-highest annual fund-raiser for the Shriners hospitals.
West 0 7 7 7 – 21
East 0 0 0 7 – 7
W — Eliot Vinzant 11 run (Kyle Bachmeir kick) W — Chad Harrington 1 run (Bachmeir kick) W — Uni Prenevost 71 run (Bachmeir kick) E — Ryan Owens 36 pass from Craig Schofield (Kyle Crawford kick)
West
East
First Downs 9
9
Rushing Yards 41-201 39-5
Passing Yards 110 151
Total Yards 311 156
Passing 8-26-2 9-30-2
Fumbles-Lost 4-1 6-2
Punts-Avg. 8-29.0 6-34.8
Penalties-Yards 7-75 4-35
Individual statistics
Rushing — West: Prenevost 4-101, Vinzant 13-32, Harrington 9-22, Konidakis 4-15, Oakley 4-14, Hernandez 1-8, Ward 2-5, Bailey 2-2, Bodine 2-2. East: Anthony 9-21, Haberly 7-15, Greene 5-6, Wright 2-1, Kirk 1-(-1), Pope 4 -(-3), Riggs 4-(-10), Gauntz 7-(-24).
Passing — West: Harrington 8-23-2-110, Prenevost 0-1-0-0, Bailey 0-1-0-0, Winkler 0-1-0-0. East: Gauntz 4-17-1-74, Riggs 4-12-1-41, Schofield 1-1-0-36.
Receiving — West: Prenevost 3-9, Hostetler 2-71, Vinzant 1-12, Boss 1-10, Hernandez 1-8. East: Greene 3-61, Matheny 3-32, Owens 1-36, Anthony 1-12, Grassman 1-10.