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Byres, Clifford Earn East Victory

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 7, 2008

TAMPA - With little time to practice heading into Saturday's Under Armour Hillsborough County East vs. West All-Star football game at Raymond James Stadium, Wharton senior quarterback Andrew Clifford was unsure how reliable his receivers would be.

After one half of football, he and the receivers looked completely comfortable.

Spoto senior receiver Alex Byres put Clifford's worries at ease with seven catches for 170 yards and one touchdown to lead the East in a 24-14 win over the West.

Clifford finished the game 13 of 22 for 229 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

"We didn't really throw the ball that much at Spoto," said Byres, who was selected The Tampa Tribune East MVP. "Clifford and Tampa Bay Tech quarterback Angel Rodriguez gave me the ball and I appreciated that."

"If I had gotten MVP, I would have walked over and given it to him," said Clifford, who added he was selected to play in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association North vs. South All-Star Classic on Dec. 23.

Sickles quarterback Cullen O'Brien led the West with six completions, 63 passing yards and one touchdown while Gaither quarterback Kamren Hawkins had 46 passing yards and one touchdown.

It was Alonso senior defensive lineman and Florida State commit Demonte McAllister, however, who picked up the West MVP trophy, after leading the defense with two sacks, including a one-handed sack on Lennard quarterback Andrew Burdick that caused the 5-foot-9 QB to somersault onto his head. McAllister is 6-3, 267 pounds.

"I just grabbed him with one hand and he starting slipping away, so I said 'come here,'" McAllister said.

Durant running back Ryan Rice was a jack of all trades for the East, catching a touchdown pass from Clifford, carrying the ball on a few snaps, and was also the team's place kicker. He nailed a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851

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