By Don Ketchum

The Arizona high school football community likes to think it is capable of playing at the same level as teams from other states, particularly Southern California.

The desert dwellers had a chance to prove it on Saturday night (June 25) in the inaugural All-Star game between the two contingents at Surprise Stadium.

Arizona thought it could move the ball. It couldn’t, gaining just 8 total yards on the night.

Arizona thought it could hold its own in the physical aspect of the game. It seldom did.

Arizona thought its defense could stop its opponent. It rarely did, particularly in the second half when the game was on the line.

The result was what you might have expected. Arizona walked off the field on the wrong end of a 27-7 score. Defeating Southern California will have to be left to future generations.

“It’s an All-Star game. In these games, things can go really well and sometimes not,’’ said Arizona coach Jeff Bowen, from Avondale Westview. “I didn’t see any major differences between the two. We just couldn’t move the ball when we needed to.’’

The defense scored the only touchdown for Arizona, when Phoenix Central defensive back Dallas Nichols pulled the ball away from Southern California quarterback Vernon Adams and raced 84 yards into the end zone with 4:33 left in the first half.

Southern California pulled to within 7-6 at halftime.

A blocked punt set up the go-ahead touchdown for the visitors in the third quarter, and it came as they attempted a field goal. Southern California set up for a 25-yard attempt after a penalty, but the snap went off the hands of Adams, the older, and into the grasp of place-kicker Nephi Garcia.

He looked to pass the ball but there was nothing there, so he took off. He scored on an 8-yard run.

Garcia later scored on a 2-yard run and finished with 64 yards on nine carries to earn the game’s Most Valuable Player award.

Southern California began to control the game, particularly after Adams found Bryan Keller deep behind the secondary for a 75-yard touchdown pass with 4:35 left in the third.

Arizona had the ball inside the Southern California 10 once in each half, but turned the ball over both times. The second time was particularly disheartening, because Westview’s Jordan Champion had returned a kickoff 91 yards to the Southern California 5.

Record-setting quarterback Rathen Ricedorff, who led Show Low to the Class 3A championship, had a nightmarish evening, completing just 5 of 16 passes for 32 yards and throwing a pair of interceptions, both by Josh Armstrong.

He often was pressured, and had minus-18 yards on seven carries.

Phoenix Washington quarterback Devonte Smythe saw limited action and didn’t fare any better, gaining just 3 yards on the ground and completing two short passes in four attempts for 4 yards.

“We hurt ourselves early in the game, but we were able to come back,’’ said Southern California coach Dick Larson. “That’s what the game is all about. They did a great job. I’m very pleased with the way things turned out, especially since we hadn’t had much time to practice.’’