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2018 East-West Shrine Game: Recap and highlights

ByJoe Schiller|
PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: A general view of Stanford Stadium and goal posts prior to an NCAA Pac-12 football game between the UCLA Bruins and the Stanford Cardinal on September 23, 2017 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: A general view of Stanford Stadium and goal posts prior to an NCAA Pac-12 football game between the UCLA Bruins and the Stanford Cardinal on September 23, 2017 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)

It was the West that came out victorious in the 2018 East-West Shrine game, beating the East 14-10.

In a low-scoring affair for the second year in a row, the East-West Shrine game did not provide too much excitement through the first half.  The only scoring in the first two quarters came from a fumble forced by Delaware defensive tackle, Bilal Nichols. He pulverized Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett in the backfield, forcing a bubble screen to go backward.

With most of the players assuming the pass was incomplete, Wisconsin safety Natrell Jamerson had the football IQ to pick up the ball and burst down sidelines 68-yards for the touchdown. Lone behold, his decision paid off as the West got on the board 7-0.

It wasn’t until late in the second quarter that Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson marched the East offense down the field on a nine-play, 64-yard drive. The East team stalled on the 14-yard line but a 33-year field goal from Nebraska placekicker Drew Brown cut the lead to 7-3 at the half.

The two sides traded punts to start the second half before Barrett found Slippery Rock defensive end Marcus Martin for the game’s first touchdown. Yes, you read that right. Martin led Division II with 15.5 sacks this season but was in at fullback on the play.

Martin was wide open in the flat and went untouched into the end zone. That kind of versatility will certainly sit well with NFL scouts.

Martin’s touchdown looked to be the final score of the game but the West had other plans. It was Texas Tech’s Nic Shimonek that orchestrated a 10-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 34-yard touchdown to Houston’s Steven Dunbar.

Dunbar made a fantastic catch over the left side of his shoulder in front of two defenders for the game-winning score.

Jamison took home MVP honors, rightfully so with the only defensive score of the game.

Next: Each NFL team’s Olympic candidate

With one collegiate All-Star game in the books, the focus now shifts the Senior Bowl starting up next week.

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