EVERETT – Coaches often name one element that sets the Class 3A/4A East-West All-Star Football Game apart from other gridiron contests: speed.
Both 2007 teams were both blessed with dozens of stunningly fast athletes, but in the end a pair of West team speedsters generated two huge plays that made the difference.
Wide receiver Eric Greenwood and free safety Nate Williams turned on the jets and combined to score two touchdowns in a game-changing key span of 57 seconds, launching the West to a 27-17 come-from-behind victory Saturday at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Greenwood, a 6-foot-6 University of Idaho recruit out of Edmonds-Woodway High School, finished with six receptions for 130 yards and two TDs. The University of Washington-bound Williams, from Kennedy High, returned one of his two interceptions for a score, helping the West overcome a 17-6 third-quarter deficit.
“With Eric Greenwood, I knew nobody was gonna catch him,” West head coach Dave Ward said of the receiver’s 90-yard, catch-and-run TD on the left sideline on a pass from quarterback Marshall Lobbestael.
“And then (Williams), when he gets the ball he’s hard to catch,” Ward said of the 6-1, 210-pound defensive back, who picked off East QB Nick Williams’ short pass and zoomed to the end zone, giving the West an 18-17 lead with six seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Lobbestael, a Washington State University recruit, was impressive all day. He was 13-for-18 passing for 203 yards and two TDs, both to Greenwood.
“Eric broke it deep and he just streaked down the sideline,” Lobbestael said of their second TD connection. “And then (Nate Williams), oh man, he stepped in front (of a pass). That was a great read and he just picked it and went for six (points). It was fun watching him.”
The West bounced back from a ragged first half. Its defense intercepted five passes and held the East scoreless over the final 17:58. The East forced just two turnovers: a fumble in the second quarter and an interception in the third.
“(The West) did a nice job of coming back, made some plays and took advantage of some turnovers,” East head coach Bob Lucey said.
East running back Micah Lape (13 rushes for 88 yards, two TDs) was named Offensive Most Valuable Player. The West’s Williams got the Defensive MVP award.
Brian McPeters padded the West lead with a 3-yard TD burst midway through the fourth quarter. Another West standout was receiver Brady Locker (six catches, 71 yards).
In the 43rd edition of the annual East-West game, the West overcame early penalty woes and special-teams gaffes to win for the second straight year and the fourth time in five years.
“We just rallied on all the mistakes they made and made our own plays, so it worked out,” said Lobbestael.
The West QB completed six of his first seven passes. He was intercepted once but even that pass was on target. It bounced off Greenwood’s hands into the arms of East DB Nick Proen.
Lobbestael had one regret: a second-quarter sequence in which he led Greenwood too much on a post route that likely would have been a TD.
But all in all, Lobbestael and the West squad had few complaints.
“We had a great time the whole week,” he said. “And we ended it good with a win.”
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