West Nebraska All-Star Football - Lewis leads West to thrilling win

Four yards from pay dirt, a mere 11 seconds remaining on the clock and with the score locked at 19-19, sudden death looming. That was the problem facing the West late on Saturday night as they huddled one last time.

Sidney's Logan Lewis had the solution.

"I told them to give it to me," he said. "I knew I could score."

The Raiders' running back took the ball and sprinted toward the left pylon, outracing three blue-jerseys to break the deadlock and give the West their first win in the West Nebraska All-Star Football Game since 2102, 26-19.

Lewis led all ball carriers with 109 yards. He added another 32 receiving yards-a performance outstanding enough to earn Offensive MVP honors on the night. But it was the last second, game winning touchdown that naturally sparked the biggest celebration.

It capped a most unlikely comeback. Two minutes into the fourth quarter, the West found themselves down 19-6. Despite showing some offensive threat, they had been unable to score since the opening possession.

Suddenly the team in red began to put things together. Sidney wide receiver Lucas Rosenbaum made an acrobatic grab along the sideline, balancing on one foot as he fell.

"That was a big one," Rosenbaum acknowledged. "We needed a first down."

The West eventually scored, closing the gap to 19-13. But time was running short.

As it had for much of the game, however, the West defense stood firm, forcing a punt. With just under 4:00 remaining, the offense took over. They gained little, however, and quarterback Dylan Folchert from Ogallala had to throw. Forced from the pocket, he spotted Lewis on the sideline.

When players had gathered for their first practice earlier in the week, West head coach Derek Deaver of Scottsbluff asked Sidney coach Todd Ekart about the back's receiving skills. Lewis can catch passes, Ekart assured him.

"So in practice he dropped everything we threw at him," Ekart said.

When it counted, however, Lewis held on, dragging one foot in bounds and giving his side a desperately needed first down. A few plays later, Folchert hit Bridgeport's Kaleb DeCora for another score, knotting the game at 19-19.

Once again the West defense rose to the occasion, led by Leyton's Brennen Cruise, playing defensive end on this evening. On third and long with 1:47 left in the game, Cruise pushed through the line and smacked down a pass attempt by East quarterback Tyler Fear from Sutherland.

"I just jumped and the ball was there," Cruise said, shrugging off the significance. "It was timing."

Yet the back to back stands on defense had given the West a sliver of opportunity.

"Defense," Lewis said when asked to credit the win. "Our defense stepped up hard core at the end."

On the offensive side, though, it was Lewis again, breaking free on a draw for 12 yards with just over a minute to go.

"That draw-in practice it hit for long yards," he said. "We knew it would work."

Barely 20 seconds remained when Folchert called Lewis' number again. The Raiders' back took it up the gut down to the four yard line, setting up the dramatic conclusion.

Experiencing the moment from his wide receiver position, Leyton's A.W. Frerichs recalled a game from the fall, when the Warriors traded blows with Paxtion late in a furious fourth quarter.

"It brought flashbacks," Frerichs said.

Rosenbaum, who caught two passes for 36 yards on the night, could only shake his head.

"It was a crazy comeback," he observed.

Rosenbaum will now head off to Missouri S & T on a track scholarship.

Cruise ended his Warriors career with several big stops and the critical blocked pass.

"It was a good way to end," he said.

Like his Warriors teammate, Frerichs had to adjust to the 11-man game over just a few days of practice. He managed it well.

"It's fun to play in a game like this," Frerichs pointed out. "It's an honor to be selected."

Lewis, who will play football at Franklin & Marshall in Pennsylvania, came away with top offensive honors-the MVP trophy-and a game winning touchdown.

"I had the biggest smile on my face," he said. "It's a fantastic way to cap off a career."