Sunset Region rallies from 17-point deficit to win all-star game

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Sunday, May 31, 2009 | 12:21 a.m.

This is why the games aren’t played on paper.

Sporting a roster of nine players who received Division-I football scholarships, the Sunset Region appeared to have a distinct advantage against the Sunrise Region during Saturday night’s West Charleston Lions Club 38th Annual High School All Star Football Game.

Then, the Sunrise — a team with four who will walk-on at major colleges — scored the game’s initial 17 points to take a commanding lead.

However, the Sunrise didn’t score in the final three quarters and the Sunset’s future college players took control in the second half of a 21-17 victory at Las Vegas High.

Cheyenne tailback Marcus Sullivan, who will play for UNLV next fall, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after rushing for 91 yards on 10 carries and catching two passes for 31 yards.

Sullivan’s 3-yard down run with 34.8 seconds to play capped the comeback.

“We decided to play as a team in the second half and not as individuals,” said Palo Verde coach Darwin Rost, who coached the Sunset team. “Football is a team sport and we had nine Division-I guys playing nine different games in the first half.”

Bishop Gorman safety John Therrell, another UNLV signee, had the game’s biggest play when he intercepted an Emir Lopez pass and returned it 65-yards for a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter to cut the Sunset deficit to 17-14.

“It took a lot of great blocking for me to get (to the end zone). I followed those guys in front of me all the way,” said Therrell, who was named the game’s defensive Most Valuable Player.

The Sunrise had three turnovers in the second half, including a fumble on a bad exchange from Basic quarterback Robby Faiman and Las Vegas running back Reggie Bullock on the first play on the ensuing possession after Sullivan’s winning touchdown.

Canyon Springs wide receiver DeShawn Stewart of the Sunrise was named the game’s Most Valuable Player on offense. Stewart had 82 yards of total offense and scored on a 29-yard run in the first quarter.

Stewart’s touchdown capped a 17-0 outburst to open the game for the Sunrise. Las Vegas kicker Trevor Lowe had a 32-yard field goal and Rancho’s James Cammack opened the scoring with a 19-yard touchdown to Rancho teammate Dijon Holman.

“We let that one get away,” said Sunrise coach Chris Faircloth of Las Vegas High. “We probably caught them off guard a little in the beginning. But they made the plays down the stretch.”

The Lions Club donates most of the game’s proceeds to the burn unit at University Medical Center. Bob Martin, the game’s co-chairman, said the club gave the hospital $15,000 last year from ticket sales and advertizing in the game program.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.