Late Score Lifts North

Elijah Blades hauls in one of his two touchdown passes. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Elijah Blades hauls in one of his two touchdown passes. (Photo by Duane Barker)

By Tim Peterson

(Covina) – Raeshawn Roland of Arcadia hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Monrovia’s Richie Schroeder with just 43 seconds left to give the North a 22-18 win over the South Saturday night in the SGV All-Star game at Covina District Field. 

A pedestrian game turned into a barn burner in the fourth quarter as the lead exchanged hands four times. The South was down 7-6 after three but grabbed the lead early in the fourth when Los Altos’ Andrew Manuele scored on a three-yard run to make it 12-7. The two point conversion attempt failed.

Andrew Manuele gets a go ahead score late in the contest. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Andrew Manuele gets a go ahead score late in the contest. (Photo by Duane Barker)

The North responded a  little over two minutes later when Muir’s Elijah Blades, who is headed to Nebraska this fall, caught his second touchdown pass of the night – a 40 yard strike from Schroeder as he simply outran the South secondary into the endzone.

The South regained the advantage with 2:36 left when Jordan Thomas of Norwalk plowed in from the two yard line for an 18-15 lead. It was Thomas’ second touchdown of the evening. Again the two point attempt went awry.

The North then marched quickly down the field where Roland came up with the game winner.

Blades got the North on the board in the first quarter when he again beat the South defense running under a 40-yard bomb by Schroeder with 1:20 left in the quarter for a 7-0 advantage. Both teams had trouble finding their footing as miscues and turnovers continually halted drives. The North took the seven point lead into the half.

The South cut the lead to 7-6 with 6:49 left in the third quarter on a 30-yard touchdown run by Thomas. It stayed that way until the fourth quarter fireworks began.

Santa Fe’s Chris Ramsay threw for 142 yards for the South but was hurt by two interceptions – both by Ahmir Davis of Muir for the North.

Raylind Butler from Norwalk had five receptions for 66 yards to help the South passing attack.

Blades finished with three catches for 83 yards and the two scores. Schroeder threw three touchdown passes and totaled 171 yards overall.

MVP Honors:

North: Offense – Richie Schroeder- Monrovia, Defense – Ahmir Davis -Muir      

South: Offense  Jordan Thomas – Norwalk, Defense – Andrew Camargo – Bishop Amat

8 Comments to "Late Score Lifts North"

  1. @Superman's Gravatar @Superman
    May 16, 2017 - 9:24 am | Permalink

    He isn’t a finished product yet. So if he’s not “OMG” doesn’t mean he’s not the best athlete in the area. The top kids don’t stay home anymore.He even started at Alemany, the point is out of this class he’s EASILY the best it has.

  2. Superman's Gravatar Superman
    May 16, 2017 - 8:13 am | Permalink

    @spectator , Blades is not the best Athlete in the valley Mr; Ball (lonzos dad) lol
    He is good but not OMG!
    D1 school bound kids is about; its network, who you know, name recognition, showcase, scouts at the right game vs the wrong adversary making a kid look great, great video highlights, famous dads sons. Give him credit yes but please do not state he is the best .

  3. @Spectator's Gravatar @Spectator
    May 15, 2017 - 8:13 pm | Permalink

    Blades is EASILY the best athlete in this valley. Does one All Star game take away from a great career? Maybe like most kids who have D1 rides he decided to coast thru a meaningless game against competition that clearly aren’t on his level.

  4. FbFan's Gravatar FbFan
    May 15, 2017 - 11:33 am | Permalink

    @Spectator, If you’re expecting great coaching in an all star game you’re nuts. I know both Perez and Medrano are very well respected coaches but not a lot you can do with a few practices for an exhibition game.

  5. Fan's Gravatar Fan
    May 15, 2017 - 6:19 am | Permalink

    Did anyone see South’s #77 big lineman get dropped , he was running forward and met a truck, he got hit by a kid half the size North’s # 21 and his back went back in the air, his body at least a foot off the ground horizontal and fell on his back, Best hit of the night!

  6. Spectator's Gravatar Spectator
    May 15, 2017 - 6:14 am | Permalink

    One of the worst coaching I have ever seen, they were both weak on offense.
    Some not all, kids that were starters were the ones doing nothing and couldn’t move the ball , Both Starting QBs lousy, No dominant RB’s? they were good but not GREAT.
    Receivers were not over the top with skill or speed, they had one speed, slow.
    yes he scored but not a D1 caliber performance, maybe against lesser talent he looks great ?

  7. SoCal's Gravatar SoCal
    May 14, 2017 - 1:45 pm | Permalink

    Elijah Blades can play. Nebraska has a good one. 2td’s, I thought he was the MVP.

  8. Sg green's Gravatar Sg green
    May 14, 2017 - 7:27 am | Permalink

    Sg coach just waiting approval he’s some guy from San Diego idk if midvalley has looked into it, or was told not to say anything, hmm…..

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