Friday, July 18, 2025
Led by a record-setting offensive performance and stingy defense, the East shut out the West in the Division II 8-Man All-Star game, 58-0, on Saturday.
J.D. Tyson of Burlingame completed eight passes for touchdowns to break the previous record (six) set by Gunner Phelan, Quivira Heights, in 2011.
The opening kickoff by Garrett Lanning, Fairfield, was returned by Pike Valley’s Miles Rickard to the East 9-yard line. A reception for a first down by Lane Loiseau, Frankfort, on the third offensive play ignited the offense.
Later in the drive, the East (under Head Coach Max Mickunas, Marmaton Valley) took a timeout facing fourth down on its 35. Frankfort’s Carter Olson promptly gave his team a 6-0 lead with a 45-yard touchdown reception two and a half minutes into the game.
After the ensuing kickoff produced a touchback, the West (under Head Coach Trever Powell, Bucklin) started its initial possession at its 15-yard line. The East’s defense set the tone for the game by stopping the West for three plays before a fourth-down punt by Rhett Kats, Logan/Palco.
Several plays later, the West defense stopped the East on fourth down to regain possession. The gold team’s defense again stifled the green team’s offense, forcing another punt.
Two plays into the second quarter, Loiseau’s 17-yard touchdown reception extended the lead to 12-0. After the West started another possession at its 22, a fumble was recovered by the defense. (Among the members of the East squad were Osborne’s Dalton Garman and Gage Seifried.)
Marmaton Valley’s Jaedon Granere followed with a 25-yard touchdown reception before Olson’s reception for the two-point conversion extended the advantage to 20-0.
Following three scoreless possessions, the East started another drive that took it to the end zone. Olson completed the drive with a seven-yard touchdown reception. Granere added a reception for the PAT to increase the lead to 28-0 late in the half.
Norwich’s Kyler Murphy returned the kickoff to near midfield before a sack ended the half. The West’s possession to open the third quarter ended when Rilyn Buessing, Axtell, recovered a fumble at the 22.
Olson finished the quick drive with a 21-yard touchdown reception. Burlingame’s Dane Winters reception from Axtell’s Eli Broxterman for the PAT pushed the lead to 36-0 three minutes into the half.
The green squad’s next possession lasted several plays before a fourth-down punt went to the East 32. Granere completed the ensuing drive with a 32-yard touchdown reception, which increased the advantage to 42-0.
The East defense continued the domination by forcing a turnover on downs to regain possession as the final period approached. Early in the fourth, Winters’ 10-yard touchdown reception extended the lead. Loiseau ran for the two-point conversion.
With the East leading 50-0, the clock ran continuously the rest of the contest. After Mickunas’ squad again shut down the West’s offense, the East offense added another drive down the field.
A touchdown reception by Blue Valley Randolph’s Landon Sump preceded Rickard’s PAT conversion that pushed the lead to 58-0. Minutes later, the defense completed the shutout, giving the East the largest margin of victory in the history of the series.
This broke the previous record set by the West in its 54-0 win in 2012.
