Remember how good Miles Drake was at quarterback and on defense for Cook County? Seems he hasn’t lost a step. Drake (11) used his leg speed to skirt around the end and go for a nice long run on this play. Drake quarterbacked the White Team to a win in the second annual alumni football game. No penalties were called in the game and although the players tackled hard, most got up laughing and made a great evening of it. Proceeds from the game were awarded to the Gunnar Anderson scholarship fund.
Three touchdowns in the first half seemed to seal the win for the White Team over the Blue Team in the second annual alumni football game held at Anderson field on Saturday, July 1.
Led by quarterback Miles Drake, class of 2009, the White Team had too much offense for a spirited Blue Team.
Drake found 2007 CCHS graduate Danny Ford with a 25-yard TD pass with 4:41 gone in the first quarter. The two-point conversion effort failed. Early in the second quarter Drake hit Mark Marxen with a 10-yard touchdown pass and again the Blue Team stuffed the two-point conversion.
With his team up 12-0, Casey Everson, class of 2009, intercepted Blue Team quarterback Chris LaVigne (1992) and ran it back 25 yards for a TD. Andy Borud (2007) scooted in for the two-point conversion to send the White Team to a 20-0 lead at halftime. Dan LaVigne (1996) intercepted a ball near the end zone right at the end of the first half for his Blue Team or the score could have been worse at the break.
Above: Everyone who played in the alumni game proudly wore Gunnar Anderson’s high school number 53 on their backs. Anderson, a Viking forever, perished in a freak snowmobile accident this past winter. Right: Sandwich, anyone? Lars Scannell (25) and Steven Roy (2) didn’t give Kyler Hawkins any room to make this catch. Far right: Andrew (Andy) Borud (7) was another catquick player who didn’t look like he had lost a step from his high school playing days.
Drake took over right where he left off in the first half on the first series. Sammy Warren (2009) made a nice one-handed grab on a catch for 17 yards followed by a Drake run of about 30 yards. Next Drake ran the option, pitching to Brandon Marxen (1999) who ran for 13 yards to the 5-yard line. But that’s where Nick Hingos (2000), Craig Horak (1999), Chris Smith (1998), Lance Anderson (2002) and Rob Hackett (1990) made some fine plays to kill the drive. The Blue Team took over on downs, but LaVigne was once again intercepted, this time by Bryan Carpenter (1991), who ran in for a TD from the six-yard line. Casey Everson took the hand-off from Drake and dashed in for the two-point conversion behind some great blocking to make the score 28-0.
The Blue Team mounted some offense as Dan LaVigne (1996) took over for his brother at quarterback. Only a great defensive play by Steven Roy stopped Blue Team running back Bruce Smith from scoring. Roy was the last man in Smith’s way as Smith twisted his way through the middle of the White team defense, but Roy made a great open field tackle on the elusive Smith to prevent the score.
Meanwhile White Team defensive player of the game Rowan Watkins killed two Blue Team drives in the third quarter, one by recovering a fumble on one series and then intercepting a ball on the following series.
With 4:34 gone in the fourth quarter Drake hit Sammy Warren for a short TD pass. The two-point try failed and the game ended 34-0.
If the fans heard the name “Everson” quite a bit during the game that was no accident. Four Eversons took the field, Colin (2013) twins Casey and Cody (2009) and Mitchell, class of 1979. Mitch was the oldest player to put on pads and he received loud cheers when he ventured into the game. All played on the White Team.
After the game Dan LaVigne was named offensive player of the game for the Blue Team and Nick Hingos the defensive player for the Blue Team. Drake and Watkins were named offensive and defensive stars for their team.
In the battle of the “two Dans,” Danny Ford made a spectacular catch and kept his toes just inside the out of bounds line as he was being hit by Dan LaVigne. Note the looks on the faces of those sitting behind the play.
Kyler Hawkins (2002) was lauded and applauded by the fans for his efforts to plan and coordinate the game with Alumni Football USA, who provided the uniforms, and to bring the players to the field of play for the second year in a row.
All of the funds from the game were dedicated to the Wayne (Gunnar) Anderson scholarship fund. Gunnar, 22, was killed in a freak snowmobile accident this past winter. Players wore his name on the back of their shirts in tribute to this much-loved CCHS football player and all around great young man.
Leave a Reply