Adelanto — On Saturday, January 19, 2013 the best Seniors football players from all of the high schools of the High Desert Prep football community stormed into the shiny new Adelanto High School campus for a great game. Playing the final Prep game on a Saturday was a fitting way to send these Seniors off, after all many of the players in the Sixth Annual High Desert All Star Football game can use this game as a way to get ready for next fall, when many of them indeed be will be playing college football on Saturdays.
One of the story lines, in the six year history of the game is Coach Robert Kistner of Oak Hill, who has become the magic charm for the South squad. In the two times of him coaching the game, he has come out the victor in both matches. Even more impressive this year, when the final horn sounded on the game, the final score stood at 28-0.
Not only would Coach Kistner deliver a victory, but on this day, it would be the South’s first victory in the past three match ups. The win would tie the all-time series at 3-3, but it was also the all-star game’s first shut out to be recorded in the process. Coach Kistner was able to bring back a years’ worth of Prep football bragging rights to the South side of the High Desert.
The shut out in the game, was the result of a truly dominate defensive performance delivered by the South. The South had a bend don’t brake approach all night. Twice allowing the North to enter the red zone, but both times they were turned back in a dominate fashion.
But their defensive dominance was tested severely once during one drive. It had appeared the North team would break into the scoring column in the third quarter, and get off their goose egg. E.J. Watts of Burrough had a great quarterback keeper run that crossed the goal line, but the touchdown run was called back for holding and they eventually turned the ball over on downs.
The first score of the game for the South squad would be delivered by quarterback Andrew Robbins of Sultana. He would hit DeAndre Williams of Serrano, who would turn the catch into a 18-yard touchdown pass, giving the South team a 6-0 lead, but they were just getting started.
Second on the board for the South team would be Tyler Murphy of Apple Valley, whom would delivery one of the best runs of the night. Refusing to be tackled, and determined to score, Murphy, break a slew of tackles on his way to a 53-yard touchdown run to lift the South team to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.
With the teams dominance on the defensive side of the ball, it’s only fitting the South’s defense would get into the act of scoring as well. The final score of the first half would come via an interception. When a pass by the North team would sail in the air, breaking on the ball like an NFL Pro Bowl receiver, Gabe Cicero of Big Bear would intercept the ball, and 18 yards later, deliver a touchdown and a 21-0 lead for his team headed into the locker room for the half.
The final scoring drive on the night would be delivered by quarterback Daniel Epperson of Serrano. He would drop back in the pocket and high Tyrone Gilmer of Oak Hills for an 11-yard touchdown pass, giving the South team its final score and the final score of the game, for the 28-0 lead.
With his outstanding play on the night, delivering a critical touchdown run for the South team and ending his night with 81 rushing yards, Tyler Murphy efforts did not go without notice, as he collected the MVP award along the way.
The High Desert All-Star Football Game is maintained by Community Youth Athletic/Academic Program (CYAP) with proceeds benefiting their many youth programs. CYAP is a nonprofit organization that uses that proceeds from the game to support Youth Sports in the High Desert, for at risk children to participate in sports at no cost or greatly reduced cost; as well as funding scholarships for High Desert students to utilize for their education at either academic or technical/industrial institutions of higher learning.
