BENTON — After trailing for the first three and a half quarters, the West used contributions from offense, defense, and special teams to score two touchdowns in a 90-second span to rally for a 20-17 win in the annual Southern Illinois Coaches Association All-Star Football Game held at Benton’s Tabor Field.

Trailing 10-6 in the fourth quarter, Murphysboro’s Devon Clemons put the West in great field position with a 25-yard punt return. Clemons’ punt return for touchdown in the first half was the West’s lone score to that point.

Sesser-Valier/Waltonville’s Carson Hoffard later connected with Carterville’s Bryce Smith for an 18-yard touchdown putting the West up 13-10 with a little more than 5:30 minutes to play.

On the ensuing East possession, Carterville’s Riley Bradford picked off a screen pass from Centralia’s Carson Green on third and 15. Bradford took it in for the touchdown, as the West scored 14 points in roughly a minute a half.

The East didn’t qo quietly. Eldorado’s Parker Price connected with Johnston City’s Isiah Watson for a 50-yard gain on fourth and long. On the very next play, Price found Mt. Vernon’s Jacari Virden for a 13-yard touchdown to pull the East within 20-17 with a little more than a minute to play.

Du Quoin’s Gage Green recovered the East’s onside kick attempt, securing the West’s three-point win.

Bradford was named Game MVP. Price and Hamilton County’s Hunter Rhodes were named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Game for the East, while Clemons and Sesser-Valier/Waltonville’s Brock Chelf were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Game for the West.

The East jumped on top in the first quarter. A 37-yard connection between Price and Virden set up Benton’s Wyatt Upton for a 13-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead.

Special teams accounted for the points in the second quarter, as Clemons’ punt return touchdown pulled the West with 7-6. Then right before half, Kaden Dover booted a 23-yard field goal to give the East a 10-6 lead at intermission.