Sam Houston defensive end Javonte Magee set up a score with a fumble return to help the West beat the East 24-12 in the 12th U.S. Army All-American Bowl before a crowd of 39,011 Saturday at the Alamodome.
But as exciting as that play was for Magee, who never had played at the Alamodome, he said it will be only one of his many memories of the past week.
“I’ll remember the guys I met, the friendships I made,” Magee said. “It was great to meet guys from all over the country.”
But most of all, Magee said, he will remember the Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans he met at different All-American Bowl activities throughout the week.
“It humbles you,” Magee said.
Asked what he would take away from the past week, Magee didn’t hesitate before replying.
“The war stories, man” he said. “It’s crazy how they go over there and put their lives on the line for us, so nothing will happen to us. They have all my respect.”
The All-American Bowl, which has been played in San Antonio annually since 2001, features 90 of the best high school seniors in the country. Vince Young, Tim Tebow and Adrian Peterson are among some of the stars who have played in the all-star game.
Magee, who is leaning toward signing with Baylor but is also considering Texas A&M and Missouri, and Smithson Valley punter Ethan Perry were the only San Antonio area players on the West roster. Perry has committed to TCU.
“It was blessing to play in this game in front of the Army guys and a million people nationwide,” Perry said, referring to the fact the game was nationally televised. “It was a lot of fun to play with all these guys. The East team put up a real good fight.”
Perry also moved by soldiers
Perry said being around Army personnel throughout the week was inspiring.
“I have so much respect for what they do, and what they go through,” Perry said. “That, combined with meeting so many great players from throughout the nation, made it a great experience.”
Magee started at right defensive end and made the first tackle of the game, throwing running back Mike Davis for a two-yard loss.
“I was focused,” Magee said. “They ran a counter play and I love counter plays. I just ate it up.”
Magee returned a fumble eight yards before getting tackled at the East 5 with 1:04 left in the first half. Sam Houston head coach Gary Green, who was on the West coaching staff, ribbed Magee after the game for getting caught from behind by a “fat offensive lineman.”
Magee’s defense?
“I didn’t think anybody was that close to me,” he said.
Nick Jordan kicked a 26-yard field goal after the West was unable to score a TD, giving his team a 24-6 lead with 15 seconds before intermission.
West never trailed
After a scoreless third quarter, the East cut the deficit to 24-12 on a 9-yard run by quarterback Chad Voytik with 2:29 remaining. Voytik’s pass on the two-point conversion was incomplete.
The West, which never trailed, opened the scoring with a 4-yard run by quarterback Cyler Miles with 7:48 left in the first quarter. Kwontie Moore’s 2-yard run drew the East within one less than three minutes later but Brooks Abbott’s extra-point failed.
Barry J. Sanders, the son of Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, scored on a 10-yard run to put the West up 14-6 with 1:33 to go in the opening quarter. The West’s last TD came on a 79-yard pass from Miles to Dorial Green-Beckham, who made a one-handed catch, on a third-and-33 play with 1:28 remaining in the first half.
Green-Beckham, from Hillcrest High School in Springfield, Mo., was named U.S. Army Player of the Year on Friday.
Green-Beckham and Miles were named co-MVPs. Miles, who has committed to Washington, completed 7 of 8 passes for 155 yards and one TD. Green-Beckham, who has yet to commit, finished with two receptions for 88 yards.
National signing day is Feb. 1.
Magee, who has received scholarship offers from schools throughout the country, said he plans to announce his commitment two weeks before signing day.
“It was great to put on the pads one more time and play in front of my fans in San Antonio,” Magee said. “It was a great experience to play in this game. There were some great players on both sides.”
