WEST DEFEATS EAST IN VHSCA ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME
Following is a reprint of an article by ALLEN GREGORY
in the Bristol Herald Courier July 11, 2004
HAMPTON - Timmy Brown came to the bustling Hampton Roads area for some fun
and fellowship. He found that and much more late Friday night.
The Richlands High School graduate intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble
and made two tackles to help the West to a 34-7 win over the East in the
annual Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star football game.
"I just tried to have fun. That was the goal," Brown said. "There were a lot
of great athletes on the field, and I wanted to compete with them."
The 5-foot-10 Brown was simply one of the greatest athletes in Richlands
history, as he starred in football, basketball and baseball.
Group A offensive player of the year Jacob Phillips (210 yards passing,
three touchdowns) from Bath County and Virginia's top-ranked prep prospect
Olu Hall from Robinson earned the headlines for the West.
However, Brown and the large contingent of players from Southwest Virginia
all made an impact.
"We know how to play hard back home, and it's always good to get the win,"
said Brown, who will likely play baseball at either Ferrum or Bluefield
College.
"This was probably my last football game, but it's been a fun ride."
Tailback Robert Barcliff (George Wythe) got the engine started for the West
with a 5-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. That score silenced
the rowdy Darling Stadium crowd of 6,014.
"We've been working for this win all week with two-a-day practices in the
heat," said Barcliff, who also displayed some nifty moves on a punt return.
"The pace is quick up here, but my goal was step up my game. I think did
that.
"And as hard as I worked in practice, I expected at least one score."
Quarterback Isaiah Spivey (Gate City) contributed 45 yards rushing on eight
attempts for the West.
"The East had a lot of talent and did a lot of talking this week, but we
executed well," Spivey said. "We had a great defense and worked as a team.
This was probably one of the biggest wins the West has had, and it feels
good."
The West's margin of victory tied East's 27-0 win in 1976 for the biggest
blowout in the 33-year history of the series.
Jared Wininger (Gate City) and Marty Gilley (Powell Valley) started on the
offensive line for the West.
Clintwood's Glyn Phillips (one tackle), Carroll County's Sam Beasley (two
rushes for 10 yards, two tackles), Gate City's Danny Beasley (two
quarterback pressures), Graham's Nathan Belcher (one punt for 35 yards) and
lineman Jared Horton (George Wythe) saw playing time.
"The Southwest Virginia boys really stepped it up," Horton said. "This game
meant a lot to us and it showed."
Graham's Ahmad Bradshaw attended the game, but did not play on the advice of
the University of Virginia coaching staff. Bradshaw signed to play at
Virginia along with William Campbell tailback Cedric Peerman, who skipped
the game for the East.
