WEST DOWNS EAST IN NCCA FOOTBALL ALL-STAR GAME

HIGH POINT—A big screen play resulting in a touchdown was the difference as the West came from behind to beat the East 14-7 on Wednesday night in the North Carolina Coaches Association all-star football game at Simeon Stadium.

It was the first time in the history of the all-star series that the game was not held at Jamieson Stadium in Greensboro, but the contest had to be moved due to construction at the stadium site.

Morganton Freedom’s David Burgess took the screen from Garrett Young of East Lincoln and rambled 79 yards for the decisive score with 5:13 left to go, and then Hendersonville’s Desean Jackson ran for the two-point conversion for a 14-7 advantage.

Tyriek Able of Greensboro Ben Smith intercepted an East pass in the end zone the final play of the game to preserve the victory.

The East led 7-0 at the half despite a 173-33 advantage in yardage that the West held.  Josh Joyner of Wilson Hunt scored the East TD on a three-yard run with 7:33 to go before halftime and Thomas Evanoff of Raleigh Athens Drive kicked the point after.

        Burgess, who was named the game’s offensive Most Valuable Player, scored the other TD for the West on a 19-yard run.

Jarod Richardson of Nash Central was the game’s defensive MVP. He had a game-high 11 tackles for the East, including four stops behind the line of scrimmage.