SAN ANTONIO – Jacob Eason and the East squad fell behind early and couldn’t mount a comeback in a 37-9 loss to the West team Saturday afternoon at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
The game ended a week of practices and festivities that Eason, the now former Lake Stevens quarterback, and his head coach Tom Tri got to attend.
The U.S. Army Bowl is one of the most prestigious high school games in the country, with its alumni including Andrew Luck, Odell Beckham Jr., Percy Harvin, DeSean Jackson, Jermaine Kearse and LeSean McCoy.
Eason and the East squad struggled Saturday afternoon, fumbling the snap on the first drive of the game. The West jumped out to a 13-0 lead and was in control the whole way.
The senior quarterback appeared to injure his hand in the game and appeared to be in a bit of pain on the NBC broadcast after a few plays.
But Eason hung in there and helped the East team drive down the field before an interception in the endzone late in the game.
Eason, who rotated every third series with fellow quarterbacks Feleipe Franks and Jawon Pass, finished 6 of 13 for 71 yards and an interception.
Friday night, Eason was selected as the 2016 U.S. Army Player of the Year, an award recognizing the top senior player in the country. Eason was previously named the National Gatorade Player of the Year, the USA Today Offensive Player of the Year, the Associated Press Player of the Year for Washington and the Everett Herald’s Offensive Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-6 Eason threw for 3,587 yards and 43 touchdowns while leading Lake Stevens to the 4A state semifinals this season.
“While every U.S. Army All-American player has shown excellence both on and off the field, one player has distinguished himself from the rest,” said Mark S. Davis, the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing, in a statement. “This year, we would like to recognize Jacob for demonstrating character, leadership and athletic excellence. We congratulate Jacob on his achievements and selection as the 2016 U.S. Army Player of the Year.”
Eason will now travel to Georgia to enroll early and get to work on the next chapter of his career.
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