West extends Shrine streak

The West scored the first 21 and the last 17 points in Saturday night's Kansas Shrine Bowl, running its winning streak to five games with a wild 45-29 victory against the East at Pittsburg.

The West, which leads the series 23-13-1, looked to be on the way to an easy win after jumping on top 21-0 by the 1:32 mark of the opening quarter.

The West still led 21-7 at the half, but the East came roaring back behind former Topeka High standout Sam Johnson to take a 29-28 lead with just 4:54 remaining. Johnson, who threw for two touchdowns, ran for an 18-yard score, then hit Adam LeBlanc (Shawnee Mission West) for a two-point conversion.

The West regained control at that point, however, getting two touchdowns and a safety down the stretch. Hutchinson's Josh Smith put the West ahead for good with a 17-yard touchdown run. Oakley's Ethan Jirak tackled Johnson in the end zone for a safety, then former Salina South quarterback Jason Seibel ended the scoring with a 3-yard run.

The West's 45 points were a Shrine Bowl record.

"We had those (three) turnovers that allowed the East to stay in it, but what really allowed the East to stay in it was that those kids just really played hard," said West coach Randall Zimmerman, of Junction City. "I'm just really proud of our kids, and it's just been a lot of fun all week long.

"These kids just kept their calm, kept their cool and made plays, and got it down (there) and put it in the end zone and won the ballgame."

Smith, who will walk on at Kansas, was named the Most Valuable Player for the West after rushing for 108 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Johnson, who will walk on at Kansas State, was named the East's Most Valuable Player after completing 11 of 21 passes for 94 yards.

The West set the tone early, marching 66 yards on nine plays on its first possession of the game, with Smith capping the drive with a 2-yard scoring run. Smith carried the ball six times on the drive for 44 yards. West quarterback Joel Piper (McPherson) set up the touchdown with a 25-yard pass to Miguel Johnson (Newton).

After forcing a short East punt the West went 30 yards in just two plays for its second touchdown, with Piper (180 passing yards) hitting Lucas Allen (Salina Central) for a 30-yard touchdown.

The East was forced to punt again on its ensuing possession — the East didn't have a first-quarter first down — and the West went in front 21-0 after Seibel ran for an 18-yard score.

The East, coached by Hayden's Bill Arnold, got its first big play of the game early in the second quarter when Ryan Mueller (Aquinas) forced a West fumble and Nathan Haug (Baileyville B&B) recovered at the West 46. The East capitalized on the turnover, with Johnson converting a pair of fourth-down passes to set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Osage City product Jordan Tice.

The East had a chance to get closer moments later when it forced another West fumble, but the East was unable to come up with the ball and the West recovered at its 25-yard line after a 25-yard loss.

Johnson and the East did get within a touchdown on its first possession of the second half when Johnson connected with Mueller for a 2-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-goal play. The East touchdown came after a West turnover at its 41.

The West responded with an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive, capped by Smith's 3-yard run. The West had a chance to increase its lead early in the fourth quarter, but Seaman's Spencer Vanderbogart blocked a long West field-goal attempt.

Johnson hit Rossville's Matt Buhler to put the East in scoring position, then Johnson connected with Chris Fields (Olathe East) for a 28-yard touchdown.

The East forced another turnover on the West's next possession, setting up Johnson's heroics that gave the East its short-lived lead.

West ... 21 ... 0 ... 7 ... 17 ... — ... 45

East ... ... 0 ... 7 ... 7 ... 15 ... — 29

West — Smith 2 run (Craig kick)

West — Allen 30 pass from Piper (Craig kick)

West — Seibel 18 run (Craig kick)

East — Tice 3 run (Gourley kick)

East — Mueller 2 pass from Johnson (Gourley kick)

West — Smith 3 run (Craig kick)

East — Fields 28 pass from Johnson (Gourley kick)

East — Johnson 18 run (LeBlanc pass from Johnson)

West — Smith 17 run (Head pass from Piper)

West — Safety, Johnson tackled in end zone

West — Seibel 3 run (Craig kick)