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East cruises to win in East-West Shrine Game

Jan 23, 2011 - 2:13 AM Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - The first college football all-star game of the year was held Saturday, with the East topping the West, 25-8, in the 86th annual East-West Shrine Game at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Syracuse running back Delone Carter rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, while Texas tight end Greg Smith caught four passes for 77 yards to lead the East.

It was the third consecutive win for the East stars, who were led by NFL coaching veteran Dan Reeves. The East used a quick start and capitalized on early turnovers to jump out to a 19-0 lead.

The turnover troubles began on the first series as Hawaii's Alex Green fumbled on the West squad's first play from scrimmage. Buffalo's Josh Thomas recovered at the West 16-yard line.

Carter took the following play to the right side for the early score. Wes Byrum, most notably the Auburn kicker who connected on the game-winning 19- yarder in the closing seconds of the BCS title game, added the extra point to give the East an early 7-0 lead.

After the teams traded punts, it was a member of the Oregon Ducks stepping up. The West squad was back on its own 18 dealing with a 3rd-and-14, and quarterback Scott Tolzien of Wisconsin was sacked at the 13 by Oregon's Kenny Rowe, losing the ball in the process. Matthew O'Donnell of the West squad fell on the ball in the end zone, giving the East team a safety and 9-0 lead.

O'Donnell was one of this year's international players selected for the game. The Queens University (Ontario) tackle is considered a potential NFL prospect as his 6-foot-11 frame was a towering sight on the West offensive line.

Penn State's Evan Royster continued the East's early dominance as he capped an eight-play, 47-yard drive with a four-yard run up the left side to make it 16-0 with 4:23 remaining in the first.

Byrum missed a field goal on the first drive of the second quarter, but after another West turnover was forced on a Tolzien sack, he connected on a 25- yarder to extend the East's lead to 19-0 at 9:24 of the second quarter.

The West squad, coached by former Dallas Cowboys head coach and current Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, finally got on the board in the final minutes of the second quarter to end the East's run.

Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle connected with Portland State tight end Julius Thomas for a five-yard score at 2:44 to put the game at 19-6.

Deciding not to go for the easy extra point, Enderle went back to Thomas for the two-point conversion. Enderle scrambled to the right side and threw across his body, hitting Thomas close to the left side front pylon to cut the West's deficit to 19-8.

Byrum then missed another field goal, this time from 44 yards out, and the East took its 19-8 lead into the half.

After a scoreless third quarter it was the East dealing with turnover troubles. Pat Devlin, starting quarterback for FCS runner-up Delaware, was picked off on the second play of the fourth by Boise State's Winston Venable.

However, Devlin's pick was righted as West quarterback Jerrod Johnson of Texas A&M was picked off on the first play of the following series to give the East team possession.

Johnson was looking for his receiver along the right sideline but the ball came up short, and right into the hands of Iowa State's David Sims at the East nine-yard line.

After the teams traded punts Navy's Ricky Dobbs led the East squad on a promising drive. Dobbs, who will be unavailable for the NFL draft due to his service requirements, rushed for a seven-yard gain on the second play of the drive, and hit Perry Baker of Division II Fairmont State for a 15-yard pass to work the ball up to the East 45.

Royster then took two rushes of 11 and three yards to work the ball into West territory. But after Dobbs threw three incompletions the East was forced to punt

Starting at its own two, the West squad was pushed back to the one due to a false start call. On the following play, Johnson rushed to the right side, but Tennessee's Chris Walker knocked the ball loose and North Carolina's Marvin Austin recovered in the end zone for the score, putting the East up 25-8.

Austin, who did not play in 2010 due to an ongoing NCAA investigation into possible improper benefits and academic cheating, is touted as a top NFL prospect and could be taken in the first round.

Game Notes

Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor was the third East signal caller, throwing for a game-high 59 yards on 4-of-5 passing...Johnson connected on 6- of-12 pass attempts for 54 yards with an interception for the West...Byrum was 1-of-3 on field goal attempts...The East held the West to only 126 yards of total offense an a dismal 1-of-11 on third down conversions.