Sochovka’s East squad overwhelms West, 35-7

Pine Forest coach Bill Sochovka appeared to be headed for disaster as he was preparing for Saturday’s East-West All-Star football game in Greensboro.

 

Injuries and illness among his original group of selections forced him to replace nearly a third of the players he and his fellow coaches picked. Complicating matters was the threat of severe weather Sunday that forced game officials to move the kickoff up a day to Saturday afternoon, wiping out at least two needed practice sessions.

 

But Sochovka’s East team, with help from Terry Sanford and East assistant coach Jeff Morehead, looked like anything but a patchwork effort as they routed the West 35-7 at Grimsley High School’s Jamieson Stadium Saturday afternoon.

 

It was the most points scored by an East football team in the series since 1976 when the East crushed the West 42-14 led by running backs Doug Paschal of Greenville Rose, Mitchell Strickland of Sanford Central and James McDougald of Maxton.

 

Javon Cowan of Triton led the ground attack for the East with nine carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Of Cowan’s total yardage, 115 came on his two scoring plays.

Landon Sargent of Cape Fear helped lead the defensive charge for the East, recording five tackles and breaking through to block a West punt. The East defense held the West to 21 yards rushing. The East rushed for 317 yards and had 514 yards of total offense to the West’s 159.

 

Pine Forest’s Juan Hernandez was five-for-five on extra points for the East.

 

Cowan and Sargent were named offensive and defensive players of the game respectively.

 

Sargent, who recently earned a scholarship offer from Chowan, said his recruitment remains open as he savors his performance in the East-West game.

 

“We got the plays working and we just ran them over and over,’’ Sargent said. “Not having that last day (of practice) we had some adversity, but we pushed right through it.

“We still shut them down. That’s what matters.’’

 

Sochovka felt the game was a testament to why it should be played in December, rather than during July when the game had been played for years as part of the annual N.C. Coaches Association summer clinic.

 

“You don’t have to worry about them being in condition so you can work on a lot more specific things,’’ he said. “There’s a lot of energy.’’

 

He added that practices were competitive and it was far less of a drain on players to practice in 40 degree weather in December versus 100 degrees in July.

 

“I was really impressed with how these guys came together as a group,’’ Sochovka said. “We had an amazing coaching staff.’’

 

Sochovka kept things simple with just five running and five passing plays. He also praised the work of assistant coach Cory Johnson of Clinton, a Jack Britt graduate, who put the defense together.

 

“He did a phenomenal job of getting those guys ready,’’ Sochovka said. “We knew they were going to be good.’’

The East has now won the last two East-West football games.

 

Other Cumberland County players on the victorious East roster were Rico McDonald of Cape Fear, Tyler Davis of Gray’s Creek and Tim Blue of Pine Forest. 

 

E – Tyjhere Crudup 4 run (Juan Hernandez kick)

W – Cassidy Hardin 42 pass from Elijah Tiller (Charlie Birtwistle kick)

E – Isaiah Crumpler 25 pass from Randall King (Hernandez kick)

E – Crudup 13 run (Hernandez kick)

E – Javon Cowan 67 run (Hernandez kick)

E – Cowan 48 run (Hernandez kick)

 

East – Cowan 9-159, Crudup 9-69. West – C.J. Ferguson 3-10, Tanner Moore 2-11.

East – Joel Sheehan 13-17-1, 157. West – Nytavious Huskey 10-19-0, 83.

East – Crumpler 5-88, King 5-49. W – Hardin 5-91, Stalcup 5-35.