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East Bay Edged Out After Emotional Week

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By NICK WILLIAMS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 23, 2008

BRANDON - No football team in Hillsborough County has had a tougher week than East Bay.

Last week, four players were involved in a car wreck that sent three to the hospital. Saturday, former starting quarterback and senior Rex Ballenger was involved in a car accident that left him with massive head injuries. He died Monday at Tampa General Hospital when he was taken off life support.

Thursday, donning Ballenger's jersey number on helmets, wrist tapes and caps, East Bay's players and coaches tried to win its spring jamboree for Ballenger, but fell short, losing to Riverview 13-12.

"I was afraid we wouldn't play well," East Bay coach Brian Thornton said. "We've been crying and praying all week. But, I think this adversity will make us better in the long run."

East Bay rallied in the second quarter, led by two scores from junior Andre Simpson, the final with 1:04 remaining. Trailing by a point, the Indians tried to win the game on a 2-point conversion but failed.

"The big reason why I wanted to win tonight was for Rex," Thornton said.
Junior fullback Chaz Burrows wore Ballenger's jersey during the jamboree. After the loss, he was overwhelmed with emotion.

"We wanted to win bad," Burrows said. "We really wanted to do this for Rex.

"Me and Rex have been friends since the sixth grade."

Thornton said the team will meet at the school today at 5 p.m. to ride together to Ballenger's memorial service, which begins at 6.

In the second game of the jamboree, Brandon shut out Bloomingdale 28-0, led by two-way skill players Sean Watson and Deandre Bowers. Watson scored the first two touchdowns, on a 17-yard catch and a 35-yard kick return.

Bowers scored on a 55-yard run in the second quarter.

"We're trying to get up to a championship level to win that first-round game," Brandon coach John Lima said.

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