hagan714

East Beats West in Valero Cactus Bowl

Kingsville -- Delta State (Miss.) linebacker Michael Eubanks was voted the most valuable defensive player after registering a record five tackles for loss as the East team defeated the West team 42-13 in the Valero Cactus Bowl played at Javelina Stadium. Click here for stats.


The annual all-star game for Division II football players was dominated by the East defense as Eubanks finished with six total tackles, three quarterback sacks, a forced fumble and return an interception for a touchdown.

Eubanks started the scoring by returning an interception 24 yards for a score just 1:28 into the game.

The East built a 28-7 halftime lead and after the West cut the lead to 28-13, Hillsdale (Mich.) quarterback Mark Nicolet threw two of his three touchdown passes to close the scoring.

Nicolet was the game’s offensive MVP, completing 10 of 18 passes for 103 yards and three touchdowns and gained 41 yards on four carries.

Offensive lineman Brandon Barnes of Grand Valley State (Mich.), last night’s winner of the Gene Upshaw Award as Division II’s outstanding lineman, was the named the Jim Langer Award winner as the game’s most outstanding offensive lineman.

The East outgained the West 390 to 188 with the East rushing for 251 yards and gaining another 139 through the air.

Bloomsburg’s (Pa.) Jamar Brittingham led all ballcarriers with 84 yards on 12 carries and Catawba’s (N.C.) Kory Fisher added 79 yards on 15 carries and scored twice.

Valdosta State’s (Ga.) Maurice Leggett set a Valero Cactus Bowl record with a 52-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.

Midwestern State’s (Texas) Daniel Polk led the West’s offensive attack, completing 10 of 20 passes for 96 yards and a score and rushing 14 times for 78 yards.

The West still leads the all-time series 8-5-1.

East Beats West in Valero Cactus Bowl | KIII TV3 | Local Sports

Come on the way the saints draft you guys need to start watching these games. LOL

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

hagan714

Division II Cactus Bowl

Here is the roster of the players

QBREES9

LoL you know your right. I missed the game had to work. But I did get to meet Dick Butkus.

saintsfan1313

haha, funny this gets brought up....i actually live in kingsville...

hagan714

No way!!!!!! we had a the ability to send a scout and blew it????? We will pay for your tickets next year.

saintsfan1313

Kingsville actually has some funny ties to the Saints....

James Jefferson, former player here at A&I was a scout for the Saints a couple years back

and Jermaine Mayberry, who never played a down with us but was signed in the offseason a year or so, played at A&I as well....

pretty good for a small town.....

wow i feel special now......

hagan714

Your on for next year. Man the way the saints pick small school guys I would have loved to go. Tickets must be tuff to get. why else would you miss it. LOL

saintsfan1313

haha, actually no, i dont have a goood excuse for not going. tickets are pretty plentiful with all the free ones business' get here in town, anyone who wants to go next year lemme kno, im sure i could score a couple dozen.........lol