GOOD REPORT ON ALL STAR GAME

[zack 10]

Amherst’s McCoy scores lone touchdown

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By Ted Allen

 

Published: July 4, 2008

 

HAMPTON — Amherst graduate Derrick McCoy played both ways in Friday night’s Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star football game, starting for the West squad at outside linebacker and wide receiver.

 

McCoy, who will join former Amherst teammate Alonzo Poe at Georgia Military this fall before transferring to Virginia Tech in 2010, made the most of his opportunity to showcase his talent amid an all-star cast assembled at Darling Stadium.

 

He scored the game’s only touchdown in a 7-0 West victory, on a 17-yard pass from Powell Valley left-handed quarterback Cedric Mitchell midway through the second quarter. McCoy leaped in the front left side of the end zone to grab the ball over Hampton defensive back Paul Shaw Jr.

 

“I’ve done that all my high school career,†McCoy said. “I know how to maintain (position) and jump up and catch the ball (in traffic).â€

 

McCoy made a couple big hits in the first half and provided plenty of pass coverage on defense and even got in on special teams, blocking an East punt in the first quarter that was called back by an illegal procedure penalty.

 

E.C. Glass defensive lineman Clifford Pennix, who will play at Averett this fall, also made two key plays for the West defense. He batted down a pass from Virginia Tech-bound quarterback Joseph “Ju Ju†Clayton early in the second half before sacking Hampton quarterback Matthew Mitchell midway through the fourth quarter.

 

Heritage athletic trainer Tony Tucker served in the same capacity for the West squad, squirting mustard into players’ mouths before the game and at halftime to help prevent cramping during the game, played on a hot, humid Fourth of July night in Hampton. He also witnessed the last high school games for Pioneers defensive lineman Dallas McDaniel (Winston-Salem State) and running back Korrey Davis, who had the opportunity to run in similar types of zone formations as he’ll see at Massachusetts.

 

“He’s the hardest working athlete I’ve ever been around,†Tucker said. “I told him, this is a good opportunity to show what you’re made of. He had an awesome practice all week.

 

That’s how he earned the starting role.â€

 

For the game, Davis carried the ball five times for 17 yards, picking up two first downs.

 

Clayton had an auspicious start for the East squad, completing a 40-yard strike to Phoebus’ Reid Evans on the game’s first play from scrimmage, but he didn’t come close to repeating Tech-bound Tyrod Taylor’s offensive performance from last year’s All-Star game. He platooned with Mitchell and Gloucester’s Tommy Reamon Jr., who may have had the best showing of the three, at quarterback.

 

Gretna’s Bryant Vennable and Tyon Bennett, who both will play at Catawba (N.C.) this fall, started at defensive back for the East squad, lining up on the left side and breaking up a couple pass attempts, one by Bennett in the back of the end zone.

 

Bennett carried once for five yards on the East’s final drive, which ended when Clayton’s pass intended for Evans fell incomplete on the right sideline.

 

Both teams used the spread formation, the same one East coach Chris Thurman ran in guiding Gretna to the Group A, Division 2, state title last fall.

 

Former Hawks coach Rob Senseney used the same offense in 2004, a 34-7 victory, the last time the West had won, but Thurman didn’t experience the same degree of success.

 

“We didn’t execute offensively,†said Thurman, who anticipated a defensive battle. “We struggled most of the night.â€

 

McCoy’s touchdown reception was set up by Blacksburg’s Tyler Holmes’ fumble recovery of a West punt at the East 8-yard line. That was the first of the East squad’s two fumbled punts, giving the West excellent field position and keeping the ball out of the hands of the East