By John Raffel
MM Sports Scene
ALL-STAR GRID IRON GANG
It wasn’t the type of game results that local players on the West All-Star team were hoping to have at Central Michigan University on June 25.
But it was still a memorable day despite a 30-13 loss to the East in the 31st annual high school football all star game, sponsored by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.
The West team included Luke Capan from Division 6 state champion Ithaca.
Capan hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mack Sovereign of Central High School, which gave the West a temporary 7-6 lead in the second quarter. The East led 16-7 at halftime.
Other notables included Lansing Sexton star running back Onaje Miller who only netted 14 yards on 13 carries but still had some breakaway plays and kept the East team on its toes with his game-breaking ability.
There was also Jarel Barton of Fulton, a punter, who averaged 40.5 yards on four kicks including a 49-yarder and gained 29 rushing yards on a fake punt. Morley Stanwood’s Andrew Havens had 29 yards on two carries while quarterback Caleb Higbie of Dewitt gained 43 passing yards on 4-of-5 attempts including one of 31 yards. Offensive lineman Ramadan Ahmeti of Waverly also had a solid game.
On the touchdown reception, “it was a broken play,” Capan said. “Mack found me in the end zone. It was a great pass. It was an exhilarating moment. It’s a once in a lifetime thing.”
“I would have given anything for the win. The week as a whole was a great experience. It taught me something about the next level, just about the competitiveness and the athletes at the next level.”
Miller also caught four passes for 27 yards and had two kickoff returns for 59 yards including one of 34 yards.
“It was fun,” he said. “You only had five days with 44 players. We all bonded pretty quick.”
Barton had fun with the fake punt.
“My guys had good blocking, I hit the hole,” he said. “The coaches knew I played running back and I had good vision and knew what to do with open space.”
It wasn’t something Barton was used to doing frequently in high school.
“We did it once,” he said. “It was fun. It threw everybody off and gets you in the open space. I think that got the momentum up a little. It would have been nice to have scored.”
Defensively, making key contributions for the West were Colin Wilson of St. John’s with three solos and three assisted tackles; defensive back Justin Pettenger of Freeland with two assists; defensive back Justin Currie of Big Rapids with two solos, one assist and one pass breakup; linebacker Brett Egnatuk of Rockford with two solos and two assists; defensive back Dylan Monette of Williamston with four solos and three pass breakups; defensive linemen Tyler Lemke of Mount Pleasant and Andrew Klompstra of Cedar Springs with one assist apiece.
“I’d give myself a B plus” said Currie, who thought he was illegally drawn offsides on a fourth-down punt situation for the East who took advantage of the miscue to score the game’s first TD. “There’s nothing you can do about it now. It’s what the referees said.
“I thought my coverage was pretty good. I’ve been working on my speed and I think my speed is just as good. Practicing with these kids has made me better.”
Coach Scott Barnhart from Farwell was the defensive coordinator for the East despite the fact his school is located in the West.
Barnhart noted that the MHSFCA selects four coaches for each side.
“The first and second coach of the four are allowed to ask one other coach in,” Barnhart said. “(Jason) Vandermass (of Croswell-Lexington) is the first assistant on the East staff and he invited me.”
It was an experience Barnhart won’t soon forget.
“It feels absolutely great,” Barnhart said after the win. “In respect to the West, they need to feel good about this thing too. We all had a real bonding time, enjoyed the kids and had a chance to work with some great athletes. “
“It was a great experience,” Barton agreed. “I’m always going to remember this. It’s a good memory to have.”