Grin Iron Classic huge success

Wildcats take part in Grin Iron Democrat Photo/Jared Lankford Cassville High School senior Wildcat football players Josh Lewright, Devin Linenbrink, Tyler Skinner, Trenton Tanner and Garrett Mahurin took part in the 10th annual Sertoma Grin Iron Classic football game at Parkview's JFK Stadium in Springfield on June 3. The local players represented the West squad, which defeated the East squad 23-16. [Order this photo]

Those eight each contributed greatly for Sertoma West win.

Carthage's Keith Lawrie fielded the opening kickoff and set up the West with a decent field position. Lawrie then hauled in a pass from Webb City's Scott Roderique on the opening play, before a nice run by the Tigers' Brian Poston helped set up the first score of the game.

After scrambling to his left, Roderique worked back across the field to his right and found a wide-open Poston for a 31-yard pitch-and-catch to give the West its first score, making it 7-0 just three plays into the contest.

A field goal from East's Fernando Cedeno (Branson), and a 17-yard touchdown run by Daniel Porter (Mountain View) made it 9-7 East, after the extra-point attempt failed. Cedeno attempted a field goal from 63 yards out late in the second quarter, but the kick fell short of its mark.

That gave the ball back to the West squad at its own 20-yard line. From there, the West marched the ball deep into enemy territory behind a long pass play from Ben Fisher (Nixa) to Lawrie anchored the West deep in enemy territory. A trick play then put the West back on top.

With 24 seconds remaining in the first half, West quarterback Ben Fisher (Nixa) threw a quick-out pass to Webb City's Austin Daniel, who then pitched the ball back to Cardinals teammate Maddy Johnson, who raced 15 yards untouched for the score. Josh Chamberlain (Bolivar) then hauled in a two-point conversion from Fisher to make it 15-9, West, at halftime.

The teams continued trading blows in the second half, with East taking back the lead in the third quarter on a quarterback sneak from Cameron Chancey (Branson) to make it 16-15. On the ensuing drive the West moved inside of the East's 10, but the drive stalled and a missed field goal turned the ball back over to East.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Webb City's Christian Hoffman, playing linebacker, stepped in front of a pass and picked it off at the East's 29. That played a key role in the game as the West drove down the field and punched it in on an eight-yard keeper by Roderique. Johnson raced in with the two-point conversion to make it 23-16.

Johnson was named Offensive Most Valuable Player for the West, while Hoffman earned Defensive MVP honors.

All of the proceeds from the game were donated to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, also known as the Tooth Truck, which provides dental care to children in the area.

West 23, East 16

East: 3 6 7 0 - 16

West: 7 8 0 8 - 23

First Quarter

West - Poston 40-yard run (Tinney Kick)

East - Cedano 40-yard FG

Second quarter

East - Porter 11-yard run (Chancey run failed)

West - Johnson 14-yard run (Fisher pass to Lewright)

Third Quarter

East - Chancey 1-yard run (Cedano kick)

Fourth Quarter

West - Roderique 8-yard run (Johnson run)