East stars, fans are winners in inaugural Queen City Senior Bowl
Ardrey Kell wide receiver Michael Hetzel caught a short pass on his team’s first play from scrimmage and lofted a 30-yard trick-play touchdown pass to Twan Flip Jr.
And so it was Saturday afternoon, as 80 Mecklenburg County high school seniors put on a highly entertaining inaugural Queen City Shrine Bowl game at the Matthews SportsPlex.
The East stars, coached by Butler’s Brian Hales, beat the West 45-22.
Hales and his West counterpart, Providence Day’s Adam Hastings, decided to have some fun and give their players a chance to showcase themselves.
“We wanted to make sure everyone had fun,” Hales said. “When you have a team like this with so many athletes, there are so many things you can do.”
Hetzel completed a pair of halfback passes; Vance’s Michai Riley had two long touchdown catches; and Mallard Creek defensive end Quentin Williams got to fulfill a dream of being a running back, scoring on a 6-yard run.
“That was our big thing,” Hales said. “We hoped there would be a lot of points scored -- the defensive players, maybe not so much. But it was a chance for the players to make memories for themselves.”
Right from the start, the coaches threw out the rulebook.
The West got the ball first, and Hastings went for a first down on fourth-and-1 from his 30. The East’s Barrutti Mazangu (Harding) stopped the West’s J’mari Taylor (West Mecklenburg) for no gain.
On the next play, East quarterback Jared Joseph (Ardrey Kell) threw a lateral pass to Hetzel, and he found Flip open on the right side of the end zone.
East running back Jamal Worthy (Butler) was named Offensive Player of the Game, after carrying 12 times for 90 yards. He also caught two passes for 13 yards and scored a touchdown.
The Defensive Player of the Game was defensive end-turned-running back Williams. On defense, he made eight tackles and repeatedly pressured the East’s quarterbacks. And then there was the touchdown.
“I’ve been telling coach for years that he ought to let me run,” Williams said afterward, referring to Mallard Creek coach Mike Palmieri.
“I just proved it right there,” he added with a laugh.
After building a 39-14 halftime lead, the West closed to 39-22 in the third quarter on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Silas Cruse (West Charlotte) to Riley. The West then drove to the East 24 in the fourth quarter, threatening to close within one score, but the East’s Reggie Bowman (Butler) intercepted a pass. A few minutes later, another Butler defensive back, Jacalyn Morrison, picked off another West pass and ran it back 65 yards for a victory-sealing touchdown.
Three who mattered
Jamal Worthy, East (Butler): Worthy accounted for 103 of the East’s 298 offensive yards, rushing for a touchdown. He was named Offensive Player of the Game.
Michai Riley, West (Vance): Riley had a big afternoon. He caught a 74-yard touchdown pass from Dustin Noller (Mallard Creek) and a 35-yard scoring pass from Silas Cruse (West Charlotte).
Reggie Bowman, East (Butler): Bowman broke up what would have been a West touchdown pass in the first quarter, then returned an interception 61 yards in the fourth quarter, ending the West’s final threat.
Worth mentioning
▪ Attendance for the first Mecklenburg all-star game was not announced, but it appeared as if more than 2,000 were on hand. Proceeds from the game, up to $10,000 above expenses, go to the Charlotte Metro School. Corporate sponsors, led by Hendrick Automotive Group, helped support the endeavor.
▪ For the most part, quarterback pass completion percentages were not good. A notable exception was the East’s Korey Hailey (Rocky River), who completed 12-of-21 tosses for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
▪ The game was a rare opportunity for players from private schools to compete against their public school counterparts. “We don’t usually get a chance to play with these guys,” Charlotte Latin lineman Austin Tolber said. “It was cool, meeting these guys on a different level.”
▪ The East outgained the West 298-155. The East attack was balanced (140 yards rushing, 158 passing). The West had only 38 rushing yards, as it was forced to throw the ball after falling in a 20-0 first-quarter hole.
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
-----------------------
East 20 19 0 6 -- 45
West 7 7 8 0 -- 22
E -- Twan Flip Jr. 30 pass from Michael Hetzel (Colby Schefers kick)
E -- Tim Newman 1 pass from Korey Hailey (Schefers kick)
E -- Kwesi Kyeifordjour 3 run (bad snap on conversion)
W -- Michai Riley 74 pass from Dustin Noller (Edward Dellinger kick)
E -- Jamal Worthy 6 run (pass failed)
W -- Quentin Williams 6 run (Dellinger kick)
E -- Bryce Jordan 41 fumble recovery (Schefers kick)
E -- Quan Webber 10 pass from Hailey (kick blocked)
W -- Riley 35 pass from Silas Cruse (Riley pass from Cruse)
E -- Jacalyn Morrison 65 interception return (kick failed)
This story was originally published December 21, 2019 at 5:51 PM.
