BUTTE — The Red Team overcame some early miscues and then held on for a 34-28 win over the Blue Team in the 37th Bob Cleverley 8-Man All-Star Game on Saturday at Bob Green Field on the campus of Montana Tech.
The Blue Team got an early spark on the first play of the game, with Ben Kessler delivering an onside kick that was recovered by Jace Thompson. The Blue Team then grabbed the first points of the game on a touchdown run from William Ullery to lead 6-0.
On the next kickoff Kessler kicked the ball 20 yards downfield but Thompson outraced the Red Team to recover the ball.
The Red Team then got the spark it needed, with the Blue Team fumbling the ball which was recovered by Hayden Axtman. The Red Team then grabbed the lead with Thompson Falls' Roman Sparks connecting with Tucker Foster for a short touchdown pass.
In the second quarter Ullery hit Hayden Diekhans for a long catch-and-run touchdown to give Blue a 14-8 lead. Red responded with a touchdown pass from Scobey's Jayce Tande to Garrett George to tie the game at 14.
After a scoreless third quarter the Red Team tacked on two touchdowns in the fourth on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Tande to George and a 10-yard run from Layne Spidel to take a 34-22 lead.
The Blue Team tried to mount a comeback with an 81-yard touchdown pass from Stephen Links Jr. to Diekhans with just over two minutes remaining to trim the Red Team's lead to 34-28 but couldn't score anymore points.
