East Reigns Supreme over the West

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The eighth annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl is now in the books and the East team scored a 33-23 victory over the West team. Led by MVP Terrelle Pryor and a very athletic East squad. The stat line was all you needed to see as the east held a 405-242 total yardage advantage over the West.

The first quarter went as expected with the East dual-threat quarterbacks and the pocket passers from the West did what they do best as Terrelle Pryor orchestrated a    play drive that was capped by a  touchdown run by Pryor. The West came right back on a drive led by Blaine Gabbert as they systematically marched down to the   yard line and Gabbert threw a beautiful 9-yard fade in the corner on the end zone that was hauled in by Texas commit Dan Buckner. The East offense racked up 120 yards of offense in the first quarter.

The second quarter started with a bang as Star Jackson threw an under thrown pass 46-yards and Pittsburgh commit Jonathan Baldwin jumped over Aaron Williams to snare the ball and kept his balance as he danced into the end zone. The Blair Walsh extra point gave the East a 14-7 advantage with 11:50 remaining in the half. The West took possession and after a fumbled exchange between the quarterback and center, Notre Dame pledge Sean Cwynar recovered the ball setting up the East on the West 27-yard line. Pryor once again came in at quarterback and gained seven yards on his first carry from scrimmage. The East then tried a tight end screen to Kyle Rudolph who was quickly corralled at the 30-yard line by D.J. Monroe and Michael Mauti. The East then lined up for a 47-yard field goal attempt which went wide left.

After a fumbled punt return by the East team's Lamaar "Flash" Thomas that was recovered by D.J. Monroe the West set up shop deep in East territory. The West was forced to settle for a 31-yard field goal which was drilled through the uprights by Justin Sorensen setting the score at 14-10 East with 2:59 remaining in the half.

Darius Barksdale returned the ensuing kickoff 20-yards to set the East up at their own 30-yard line. MarQueis Gray seeing his first action of the game gained ten yards on a quarterback draw. The very next play the East was whistled for a false start. Gray then kept the ball again gaining 14-yards and setting the East offense up at their own 49-yard line. Gray then tossed a pass into the turf that was intended for DeAndre Brown. Facing a third and ten the East was dealt a delay of game penalty. The East ran their hook and lateral play Gray to Goodman to Flash Thomas for a minimal gain setting the East up on the West 19-yard line. Gray through a beautiful fade pass to DeAndre Brown who was covered like a blanket by Robert Golden. Brown out leaped the smaller Golden for a 14-yard touchdown catch. The Walsh point after try was no good giving the East a 20-10 advantage heading into halftime. The East squad holds a 247-60 advantage in total yards after one half.

The third quarter open with the East settling for a three and out. Dayne Crist took control and fired a beautiful 56-yard touchdown pass to Michael Floyd his fellow Notre Dame commit who scorched Boubacar Cissoko. The extra point was converted as the West still trails by a 20-17 margin. Pryor once again led the East on their next drive. On the first play of the drive Pryor ran a draw which netted 16-yards. Ryan Williams followed  with an eight yard gain. Pryor gained four more and gave the East another first down. Pryor danced around left end for five more setting up a third and three from the West 44-yard line. The East kept feeding the big man as Pryor kept on the keeper for six more yards and another first down. Pryor then threw a pass on first down to DeVier Posey an Ohio State commit who was crushed by Rahim Moore and forced the drop. On second down Flash Thomas was given the ball and he raced up the middle for 23-yards setting the East up at the West 15-yard line. Pryor threw a beautiful 15-yard touchdown pass to Notre Dame commit John Goodman. The point after try failed as the East held a 26-17 lead. Through three quarters the East holds a 335-135 total yardage advantage

The West got the ball back early in the fourth quarter but had to punt once again. DeVier Posey fair caught the Justin Tucker punt giving the ball to the east at their 21-yard line. The East offense sputtered under the guidance of MarQueis Gray and they settled for a three and out. With 9:01 remaining the West set-up shop at their own 13-yard line with Blaine Gabbert at quarterback. the West facing a third and nine from their own 14-yard line after two failed screen attempts saw Gabbert run for his life and avoid a East rush, but his pass completion to Austin Holt was short of the first down marker and forced another punt.

With 6:56 remaining the East brought Pryor back into the game and began a drive on their own 32-yard line. R.J. Washington lows by Mike Golic and sacks Pryor forcing another East punt. Coach Bob Prunty gets tricky and runs a fake punt. Blair Walsh picked up a key block by Steve Filer who sprung him for a frist down. Pryor followed with another long gain on a keeper for another first down setting the East up at the 24-yard line. Gray came back in at quarterback and promptly scored on an 11-yard quarterback draw. The Walsh extra point was good as the East took a 33-17 lead.

With time winding down late in the game Andrew Luck found a streaking Michael Floyd open for a 38-yard touchdown catch the 2-pt conversion attempt failed setting the final score at 33-23 as the East reigns supreme. The East victory creates a tie in the overall series at four wins a piece.

Jeannette, Pa., quarterback Terrelle Pryor earned the Pete Dawkins MVP award as the game top player. Pryor ran for 79 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. He also completed four of six passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.