All-Star football game about more than winning or losing

This was one occasion where losing didn't sting so much.

For the final game of their high school careers, many of the area's most talented seniors gathered at Larrabee Stadium in Ventura on a scenic Saturday afternoon for the 35th Ventura County EastWest All-Star Football Game.

Although his East team was defeated by the West, 29-10, Agoura High quarterback Doug Shumway said the overall experience outweighed the final result.

"It was a lot of fun, especially practice," Shumway said. "The game didn't turn out how we wanted it to, but the practices were enjoyable and everyone had a really good time."

For three weeks Agoura head coach Charlie Wegher worked with an East squad composed of players from the Marmonte, TriValley and Prep leagues.

Oaks Christian, a five-time CIF-Southern Section champion, and Grace Brethren were the only local programs without a player representing East County at last weekend's showcase.

Wegher, who was coaching in his second All-Star game, said working with so many talented athletes was a rewarding experience that required a great deal of effort by the coaching staff.

"Getting to know the kids we competed against was a lot of fun," Wegher said. "There are some good athletes and some real good character guys."

The coach said players such as Newbury Park's Ron Tatham, Royal's Derek Morris and Oak Park's Dustin Geyer demonstrated a solid work ethic during practice.

While most players had the entire three weeks to sharpen their pigskin playing skills before the big game, others were still competing in spring sports and could only work out with the East team sporadically.

Take Simi Valley's Chance Cross, for example.

Eight days before Saturday's game, Cross was at Dodger Stadium playing in the CIFSS Division I baseball championship, helping Simi Valley defeat Long Beach Wilson, 4-1.

Cross said he began noncontact workouts with the East team during the baseball playoffs but had to miss more and more time as the Pioneers' postseason run progressed.

Still, the Princeton-bound safety was able to shake off his gridiron rust and produce a pair of tackles, including one for a 3-yard loss, against the West All-Stars.

"In football you rely a lot on instincts," Cross said. "In baseball you have to focus much more on doing your own thing.

"Today I was able to come out here and just run after the ball. It was a lot of fun."

The game itself started out well for the East before a blocked field-goal attempt late in the first quarter led to an avalanche of points by the West.

A fumble recovery by Moorpark lineman Garrett Meadows gave the East the ball on the West's 46-yard line midway through the opening quarter.

On the ensuing play, Moorpark wide receiver Ryan Murry found Newbury Park quarterback Colby Cameron open down the sideline for a 33-yard pass play. Cameron had passed the ball to Murry before hauling in the flee-flicker reception.

The drive stalled shortly thereafter, and a 36-yard field goal by Westlake's Jordan Mannisto gave the East a 3-0 lead.

Viewpoint defensive back Jamie Wheeler-Silverman, who recently led the VHS boys' volleyball team to its record-tying fourth consecutive section title, intercepted a pass on the West's next possession, giving the East the ball back on the West's 36.

Eight plays got the East's offense within five yards of pay dirt, but the West defense once again held its ground on third down and forced a field-goal attempt by Mannisto.

This time things didn't go as smoothly for the East, as St. Bonaventure defensive lineman Christian Mohan penetrated the pile and blocked the kick.

Rio Mesa's Jerrell Thomas picked up the loose ball and sprinted 95 yards for the go-ahead score. Considering that Thomas also shined for the Rio Mesa boys' 4x100 relay team, which recently competed at the CIF state meet, it's easy to understand why no one was going to catch the speedster as he streaked down the sideline.

"I had my eye on the touchdown, and nothing could stop me," Thomas said.

With his team leading 7-3, St. Bonaventure quarterback Casey Serna displayed incredible athletic ability by rumbling from one side of the field to the other on a 43-yard scoring scamper.

A two-point conversion made it 153 West with 10:31 remaining in the second quarter.

Led by Cameron and Simi Valley running back Langston Jackson, the East drove 89 yards in less than two minutes to score its first and only touchdown of the contest. The drive was capped by Jackson's 32-yard run into the end zone.

The game remained 15-10 in favor of the West at halftime.

En route to earning Most Valuable Player honors, Serna led the West on two more scoring drives in the second half as a five-point cushion ballooned into a 29-10 victory.

Efficient in the first half by gaining 132 yards, the East's offense could only muster 88 total yards in the second half, while the West rolled up 197 yards after intermission.

"They turned it up and hit us before we even knew what happened," said Shumway, the Agoura quarterback, of the West's second-half surge.

Simi Valley's Jackson was honored as the East's Offensive Player of the Game. Newbury Park's Chance Flaaten logged a team-high eight tackles and was named Defensive Player of the Game for the East.

Tatham, the Newbury Park linebacker, earned the East's sportsmanship award.

During the East's final huddle after the game, Thousand Oaks' Evan Yabu was serenaded by his teammates with the "Happy Birthday" song.

Yabu, who also intercepted a pass and had his own fan club- complete with handmade Tshirts- at the game, was enjoying the moment, as were the rest of the guys.

"I appreciate it," Yabu said. "I appreciate the love."

Coaches honored

During halftime of the AllStar game, co-sponsored by the Ventura County Football Coaches Association and the Ventura Downtown Lions Club, several area coaching staffs were recognized for their contributions during the past season.

Newbury Park took home the Coaching Staff of the Year award in the large schools varsity division. Former Panther head coach George Hurley, who recently retired from coaching, was also given a lifetime achievement award.

Moorpark's coaches were named the top staff in the large schools junior varsity division. Westlake's coaches won the award in the frosh/soph division.

Oak Park's frosh/soph coaching staff was recognized for its work in the small schools division.