03.31.07
One-man show
One-man show
Fresno State signee Mathews reaches end zone 4 times in annual all-star game
BY BRAD RIDDELL, Californian staff writer
e-mail: briddell@bakersfield.com | Friday, Mar 30 2007 11:50 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Mar 30 2007 11:56 PM
For those Kern County high school football players still haunted by visions of Ryan Mathews running roughshod through the secondary, Friday’s Terrio Therapy Blitz Bowl must have been a waking nightmare.
Photos:
Photo by Brian Drake/The Californian
West High senior Ryan Matthews catches a 10-yard pass for a touchdown in front of the defender Phillip Thomas in the second quarter of the sixth annual Blitz Bowl on Friday at Rabobank Arena.
The former West High star started the scoring with a 50-yard kick return and never stopped making plays in a 66-36 West All-Stars’ win over the East All-Stars at Rabobank Arena in front of 4,317.
“This was fun, real competitive,” Mathews said. “The crowd, the fans, I loved it. It was great.”
Mathews was named game MVP after catching five passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns and returning two kicks for touchdowns. He also made a habit of laying out unsuspecting East defenders when blocking down field.
“I just wanted to come out and show everybody what I could do,” Mathews said. “I didn’t get to catch the ball that much this season.”
“We wanted to get Mathews the ball, that was the gameplan,” West coach Dennis Manning said. “The kid is a class act and a hard worker. I just loved being around him these past couple weeks.”
A crew of lineman from Taft led the way for the West defense. A.J. Savaii, Tony Savaii and Junior Sefo applied the pressure up front and never let the East passing attack gain momentum.
These are the same Wildcats who stuffed Manning’s Foothill team in the opening game of the regular season.
“When Paul Press appointed me and we found out Taft was on our team, I knew the guys I wanted,” Manning said. “They made a real impact on us during the season.”
Tony Savaii, who intercepted a pass for a touchdown, was named the game’s Defensive MVP. South quarterback Joseph Maldonado was named Offensive MVP after throwing for 113 yards and three touchdowns and running for another.
All four Kern County players heading for Fresno State next season participated in the game, Mathews and East tight end Ryan Skidmore for the West, Golden Valley running back Bryson Hodges and Bakersfield’s all-everything Phillip Thomas.
Hodges tried to help the East answer with a big comeback, returning a kick in the second half for a touchdown. He seemed determined on the run, sure of his eventual score.
“I knew I was going to take it back,” Hodges said.
Thomas did his part for the East as well, throwing for a touchdown and catching another. But even 30 second-half points for the East couldn’t close the 33-6 halftime gap.
“We made too many mistakes,” Hodges said.
The Bakersfield foursome and the rest of the senior All-Stars made their last appearance in front of the hometown crowd Friday, but they are sure to continue making headlines at their next destination.
“My boys Phillip Thomas, Bryson Hodges, Ryan Skidmore, they held it down tonight,” Mathews said. “Can’t wait to get up to Fresno State and play together.”
West13201419–66
East06246–36
Scoring summary
First quarter
W–Mathews 50 kick return (run failed)
W–Savaii 1 interception return (Ruesga kick)
Second quarter
W–Skidmore 20 pass from Maldonado (kick failed)
W–Castro 6 run (Ruesga kick)
E–Deathrage 6 run (kick failed)
W–Mathews 10 pass from Maldonado (Ruesga kick)
Third quarter
W–Mathews 31 pass from Maldonado (Ruesga kick)
E–Hodges 50 kick return (Mahan kick)
W–Mathews 50 kick return (Ruesga kick)
E–Hodges 1 run (Mahan kick)
E–Terrell safety
E–Thomas 13 pass from Hinzo (Baker run)
Fourth quarter
W–Maldonado 1 run (kick failed)
W–Smith 45 run (kick failed)
W–Ramirez 1 fumble return (Ruesga kick)
E–Polley 10 pass from Thomas
