EVERETT — In addition to having a strong arm and good speed, quarterback Blake Bledsoe has something much harder to find.
It’s an intangible skill that all players want but few possess, and one that coaches can’t teach.
“People gravitate to him. You know he’s going to be hugely successful in whatever he does in life,” said Greg Kittrell, the East team head coach, whose squad played the West team Saturday in the 2009 East-West All-Star Football Game.
Bledsoe, from Spokane’s Central Valley High School, succeeded often in the annual East-West showdown. Propelled by his accurate throwing and timely running, the East team prevailed 13-12 in an intense, hard-fought clash at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Bledsoe rushed 13 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 1 minute, 40 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. Earlier in the game — an annual showcase of Washington’s top Class 3A and 4A prep gridiron standouts — Bledsoe threw a TD pass to receiver Clayton Homme of Southridge in Kennewick.
“He’s got that thing that is unteachable,” coach Kittrell said of Bledsoe, “where kids will follow him and rally around him and like him.”
Following his clutch fourth-down completion to receiver Ashton Clark of Heritage High in Vancouver, Bledsoe took advantage of a massive running lane up the middle and bounced off a few defenders on his way to the end zone. Sumner lineman Grant Cisneros supplied the key block on the counter play.
“The whole line just dominated on that play. There was a huge wall,” said Bledsoe, who will play football for Santa Rosa Junior College in California.
The West team had a chance to win in the final minutes, but the East defense clamped down and prevented the West All-Stars from getting past midfield. On third down, defensive back Stan Langlow unloaded a crushing hit on West receiver Spencer Hannah of Ferndale, breaking up the pass as he jarred the ball loose and preventing what would have been a first down at the East 37-yard line with 1:22 to go.
On fourth down, the East pressured West QB Jacob Allie of Lindbergh, who tripped and took a 5-yard loss. That pretty much ended it, as the East killed the clock.
Kittrell, the East coach, praised his defense, which recovered three fumbles and made an interception. “They really shut them down — a lot of athleticism on that side of the ball,” he said.
West players were disappointed but kept it all in perspective after enjoying a memorable week of practices and bonding.
“We lost by one point,” said West QB Nick Baker of Lake Stevens, “(but) it was just such a blessing to be a part of something so great, honestly.”
Bledsoe (90 yards passing, 29 yards rushing, two TDs) was named the East team’s most valuable player.
The West team MVP was Everett High’s Jake Frauenholtz. He made three receptions for 42 yards, including a diving catch on fourth down that set up his team’s first score. He also returned an interception 34 yards, which led to the West’s second TD.
“Overall, I’m just shocked. I did not expect this at all,” Frauenholtz said of his big day.
Fullback Michael Fields of Nathan Hale had a game-high 63 yards rushing, but he lost two fumbles. The first one came on the East 2-yard line late in the second quarter.
Meadowdale’s A.J. Carroll caught two passes for the West team, including a diving 25-yard TD reception from Baker. Baker finished a perfect 6 of 6 passing for 61 yards.
At Everett Memorial Stadium
East0706—13
West6060—12
West—Lee 4 run (Gouveia kick blocked)
East—Homme 13 pass from Bledsoe (Langlow kick)
West—Carroll 25 pass from Baker (Baker pass failed)
East—Bledsoe 13 run (Langlow kick blocked)
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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