SAN ANTONIO – If you don’t know the name Dante Mooreit’s time to get acquainted.
Moore threw four touchdown passes on Saturday as the East rolled over the West, 55-17, at the annual All-American Bowl, which brought together more than 100 of the nation’s top high schoolers for one final showcase inside the Alamo Dome. It was a surgical performance for the UCLA-bound signalman as he completed 14 of 19 pass attempts for 156 yards in about two quarters of play.
“It’s a real blessing,” Moore told 247Sports after receiving the MVP trophy. “A lot of it came as a team effort, of course. I mean the team was just stacked with wide receivers, o-linemen, running backs and great defense too. But me being a quarterback just wanted to get the ball to our point guards and let them do their job, and really they did…. It’s been a long week of practice. Exhausting. But we “We got the most runs ever in the All-American Bowl. So we did a great job today. It’s really great for me, but it was really teamwork.”
It didn’t take long for Moore to let everyone in the stands — or those watching at home on NBC — know he’s got the goods as the national number one. The 247 Sports 3-rated quarterback opened the game with three straight completions before connecting with the wide receiver signee LSU Jalen Brown to a 12 yard score. Less than a minute later after an unexpected turnover from West, the Detroit native hit the Ohio State receiver. Brandon Innis in the end zone corner for six extra points.
The dimes didn’t stop there. Late in the second quarter after the East had taken a 24-3 lead, Moore essentially put the game on ice when he fired a dart to the signer of the Ohio State Receiver Carnell Tate right in the middle for a 29-yard touchdown. Moore would then put an exclamation mark on his exit early in the second half when he sneaked a ball around the Clemson signee Tomarion Parker -who had broken containment on the edge- and in the hands of the Alabama running back Judge Hayneswho wandered into the end zone five yards out for Moore’s fourth touchdown pass of the day.
“He’s probably the best quarterback in our class,” Inniss said. “I’m not going to lie to you. I saw him in training and me and Carnell have been talking about it ever since we saw him play. [this past summer] in Las Vegas.”
Brown added, “I feel like Dante is the best quarterback in the class. He reads the field well, he’s got a strong arm, he’s disciplined and he’s a great leader.”
While Moore was the one social media tweeted, he wasn’t the only East quarterback to impress on Saturday. Oregon State Signatory Aidan Chiles was elusive in the pocket and made his own high-profile touchdown pass like when he slipped a ball just over the heart of the West’s defense to Miami running back Marc Flecherwho ran 81 meters in the field at the start of the second quarter for a score.
“It was just a great way to end,” Fletcher said of the atmosphere and fan support in San Antonio. “It was a great experience. Now I’m just ready for the next level.”
Haynes finished with a game-high 87 rushing yards on 10 carries. Much of that yardage came in the third quarter when he broke at least six tackles on a 46-yard run.
The East also added to its fourth quarter lead with a pair of four-yard touchdown passes from Florida running back. Treyaun Webb and signing Miami wide receiver Nathanael Joseph.
Ohio State Quarterback Signer Lincoln Kienholz was responsible for West’s only two touchdowns. The first came with a little sparkle and glare as he ran across the field and away from a pair of defenders before firing a fly ball to the goal line where the LSU tight end signed Ka’morreun Pimpton jumped up and went down with the pass for a 43-yard touchdown. Then, with less than a minute left in the game, Kienholz connected with the TCU-wide reception signer. Cordale Russel for a score of 38 yards.
Kienholz finished the day 6 of 11 passing for 105 yards. He shared reps with the Oregon signer Austin Novosad and Louisville signatory Pierce Clarkson.
Defensively it was Blake Nichelson who paced the game with 7.5 tackles. Right behind the FSU linebacker signer was the LSU linebacker signer Pentecostwho racked up 5.5 tackles and also picked up a fumble.
“It was fun,” Week remarked as he walked into the locker room. “It was definitely harder than high school football because you have the best players in the country that you compete against and everyone’s size and speed is just different. Like all the offensive linemen were huge But it was just a class operation. All week. We had a lot of fun.
Alabama Safety Signatory Caleb Downs landed a Clarkson pass as Notre Dame signed Brennan Vernon hooked A Novosad screen pass with a hand in the backfield for another takeout. These two reversals only tipped things in favor of the East.
Other defensive highlights in the box score include: Alabama’s defensive signet Keon Keeley (2.5 tackles, one sack and one PBU), Utah defensive end signing Hunter Clegg (TFL and a blocked punt), Notre Dame linebacker signer Drake Bowen (5 tackles including 1.5 for a loss), Oklahoma cornerback Jasiah Wagoner (4 tackles and a PBU), cornerback signed Auburn Kayin Lee (two tackles and a PBU), Oklahoma linebacker signer Samuel Omosigho (4.5 tackles) and the aforementioned Parker (sack and forced fumble).
As far as special teams go, the future Illinois kicker David Olano drilled a 50-yard attempt and also hit 36 yards as Indiana signed Nicolas Radicic connected on a 25-yard field goal attempt. Signed Texas A&M bettor Tyler Whiteon the other hand, shot down at the 1 yard line like a seasoned vet.
Stay locked to 247 Sports for more coverage from San Antonio.
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