Jake Caron Named MVP of 2010 Tazon de Estrellas
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2010 - TOLUCA, MEXICO -
Team Stars & Stripes rolled up 475 yards of total offense,
including 370 yards passing, to defeat the CONADEIP Mexican
All-Stars 48-7 in the 2010 Tazon de Estrellas Saturday afternoon at
La Congeladora (The Freezer) at the Tec de Monterrey Toluca
campus.
Jake Caron (Pomona-Pitzer) completed 14 of 21 passes for 143 yards
and four touchdowns and Kyle Simmons (Ohio Northern) completed 13
of 19 passes for 227 yards and three scores. Caron and Simmons also
combined for 41 yards rushing.
On the ground, Chris Curry (Union) rushed 17 times for 90 yards and
Matt Clark (Thomas More) rushed four times for 13 yards.
Caron was named the Team Stars & Stripes MVP by the media in
attendance.
The Team Stars & Stripes staff also gave out three awards:
The Don Hershberger Most Valuable Player Award was given to Frank
Ross of John Carroll.
The Ron Schipper Most Valuable Traveler awards were given to Jesse
Richards (Ohio Northern) on the defense and R.J. Maki
(Pomona-Pitzer) on the offense.
Ross and Scott Schoettgen (Willamette) led the Stars & Stripes
receiving corps. Ross caught seven passes for 103 yards and three
touchdowns and Schoettgen caught six passes for 117 yards and two
TDs.
On defense, Curt Perschnick (Augustana) had six tackles, a sack and
forced a fumble and Kile Beaver (Loras) had five tackles.
"In a word, fantastic," head coach Stars & Stripes Bill Manlove
said. "All three phases, special teams, defense and offense, were
outstanding. The staff did a great job getting them ready. It was
close for awhile. I think the third TD came in a crucial spot and
the 4-play drive after their score was huge. It swung the momentum
back in our favor."
Caron hit Jordan Leuschen (Central) on a 4-yard scoring pass with
3:59 left in the second half to cap a 12-play, 79-yard scoring
drive to give Team Stars & Stripes 20-0 halftime lead.
TSS took the second half kickoff and quickly marched 70 yards in
just four plays, scoring on a 23-yard pass from Simmons to
Schoettgen to make it a 27-0 game just 2:07 into the second
half.
The Mexicans followed the Stars & Stripes score with their only
scoring drive of the game. Te CONADEIP all-stars marched 78 yards
in 13 plays and scored on a 5-yard pass from Guillarmo Martin to
Sergio Segova with 8:15 left, switching the momentum in the hosts
favor.
"Of the 13 years we have played this game, this was the most
dominent team in all three phases of the game," Stars & Stripes
General Manager Patrick Steenberge said. "It also was the best
sportsmanship game we've ever had. We are eager to continue this
tradition with Division 3 players again next year."
But Team Stars & Stripes quickly silenced the nearly capacity
crowd of 4,257 as Simmons dirceted a 5-play, 80-yard scoring drive.
He hit Ross on a 45-yard TD pass that gave the visitors a
commanding 34-7 advantage with 5:47 left in the third.
Perschnick then sacked Martin on the hosts' ensuing possession and
Tyler Owens (Thomas More) recovered the fumble at the Nexico
32-yard line.
Six plays later, Caron hit Maki on a 9-yard TD pass and Stars &
Stripes led 41-7 with 3:02 to play in the third.
Caron threw hit fourth TD pass of the game to wrap up the scoring
with 11:47 left to play, connecting with Schoettgen on a 21-yard TD
strike to give TSS a 48-7 advantage.
Ross scored the first two touchdowns of the game, hauling in a
21-yard pass from Simmons with 3:59 left in the first period and
grabbing a 11-yard pass from Caron with 11:48 remaining in the
half.
Stars & Stripes defense limited CONADEIP to 158 yards of total
offense, including just six yards rushing. TSS held the ball
for 36:19 to just 23:41 for their opponent.
Martin connected 13 of 22 passes for 107 yards to lead the CONADEIP
all-stars offense.
Coney and Eric Wenzler (Ohio Northern) each blocked punts for Team
Stars & Stripes and Richards and Blake Suchow (Wartburg) each
had interception for TSS.
