Orange County All-Star Football Game : Brown Goes Out With a Bang, but Showcase Ends in 17-17 Tie

The 30th Orange County all-star football game was advertised as “The Derek Brown Show” and the Servite High School tailback lived up to the billing in a 17-17 tie Friday night.

Brown gained 121 yards in 27 carries and a touchdown, returned a kickoff 97 yards to open the second half for another score and caught a pass for 10 yards to cap a brilliant, three-year career in front of 7,500 in Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

Brown’s crowd-pleasing kickoff return set the tone for an entertaining second half. Brown had struggled to gain 25 yards in 11 carries by halftime, but his long return seemed to enliven both teams.

“When we huddled up to start the second half, I told the team, ‘This is it. I’m going for a touchdown,’ ” Brown said. “I went straight up the middle and it was gone.”

Not exactly. Brown used his extraordinary vision to find a seam near the 20-yard line and then eluded two tacklers along the right sideline near the 35. Then he turned on the speed and outraced a final defender to help the North tie the score, 10-10.

Brown scored his second touchdown on an 11-yard run in which he effortlessly zipped past the right side of the South’s front line to give the North a 16-10 lead. He gained 96 yards rushing in the second half and appeared to get stronger with each carry.

“We weren’t that effective rushing in the first half,” Brown said. “But I felt I got stronger as the game went on. We were in better condition, I guess.”

Brown was so effective in the second half that North Coach John Barnes decided to utilize him in a two-minute drill rather than passing. The North drove from its 22-yard line with 4:56 remaining to the South’s 35, but Brown was stopped for a four-yard loss by South linebacker Kevin Roberts on fourth down.

The South drove to the North’s 31-yard line behind the passing of Trabuco Hills quarterback David Lowery, but Jason Crabbe’s 47-yard field goal attempt fell short as the game ended in a tie for only the second time.

The South had tied the score, 17-17, with 8:42 remaining when quarterback David Henigan of Fountain Valley teamed with tailback Estrus Crayton of Santa Ana on a 21-yard pass play.

It was Crayton’s second touchdown, following a 15-yard run with 2:07 remaining in the first half that pushed the South ahead, 10-0. Crayton gained 26 yards in seven carries and caught three passes for 62 yards.

Henigan also was a standout, completing 11 of 18 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Brian Ryder of Edison and wide receiver Mike Cook of Fountain Valley were Henigan’s favorite targets. Ryder caught six passes for 61 yards and Cook caught five passes for 79 yards.

“I was difficult getting any kind of rhythm in this game alternating at quarterback,” Henigan said. “I’d go two series, and then David would come in. I didn’t get comfortable unti the fourth quarter.”

Henigan and Lowery combined for 274 yards passing but the South gained only 78 yards rushing against a defense anchored by Servite linebacker Garrett Greedy. The North managed only 73 yards passing and had three interceptions, but Brown led a running attack that produced 182 yards.

North 17, South 17 North--FG Nevin 36

South--FG Crabbe 25

South--Crayton 15 run (Crabbe kick)

North--Brown 97 kickoff return (Nevin kick)

North--Brown 11 run (Nevin kick)

South--Crayton 21 pass from Henigan (Crabbe kick)

Attendance--7,500