Hart’s Delmatoff, Charles Help East Rally to 27-24 All-Star Win

The dynamic duo played it their way and went out with a bang.

Davis Delmatoff and Deriek Charles--the tandem that so frustrated Hart High opponents last season--teamed up one last time in rallying the East to a 27-24 victory over the West on Friday night in the 14th Daily News All-Star game at Birmingham High.

Delmatoff, an All-Southern Section quarterback, scored the game’s deciding points on a 17-yard touchdown run with 2 minutes 52 seconds remaining to put the East ahead for good, 26-24. The touchdown ended a five-play, 50-yard scoring drive in 1:40. He also capped the offense-dominated contest with a successful kick for the final point.

Delmatoff’s winning play was delayed nearly 15 minutes as an injury to the West’s John Buckley of Reseda stopped the game with the East at the West’s 17-yard line. Buckley was transported by ambulance off the field tied to a stretcher.

The West mounted one last charge behind quarterback Eric Bennett of Simi Valley and receiver Jason Toohey of Newbury Park. Bennett marched the West to the 43-yard line of the East but the drive--and the game--ended there. Rashaud Vaughn of Canoga Park could not handle a pass thrown by Bennett on fourth and 10 with less than 10 seconds remaining. The East took over on downs and celebrated its second consecutive all-star victory. It won last season’s game, 7-0.

No one was happier than Delmatoff. He ended his Hart career on a down note in a 13-7 upset loss to Crescenta Valley in the Division II playoffs during November, throwing three interceptions and fumbling twice. He had looked forward to the all-star game for quite a while.

“I waited a long time to get that ‘CV’ taste out of my mouth,” said Delmatoff, who was beaming. “I didn’t want to end everything like that. This feels so good.”

Hart Coach Mike Herrington coached the East team’s offense, which ran a watered-down version of the Indians’ run-and-shoot attack. Feeling right at home, Delmatoff completed 11 of 18 passes for 220 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 61 yards and two touchdowns in 10 attempts.

Moreover, Delmatoff clearly benefited from Charles’ presence. Charles--The Times’ Valley back of the year--carried six times for 115 yards.

He broke four tackles on a spectacular 74-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to open the game’s scoring. Charles also had two receptions for 43 yards.

“It was nice having him there, knowing what he would do, where he would go, what his tendencies are,” Delmatoff added. “It was great being together in the same game again.”

The outcome was less pleasurable for Bennett and Toohey, who meant as much to the West as Delmatoff and Charles did to the East.

Bennett completed 14 of 29 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown.

He directed a 73-yard, 10-play drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by Torie Lee of Crespi to put the West ahead, 22-20, with 2:54 remaining.

His three-yard conversion run put the West up by four, 24-20, before Delmatoff went to work on the winning drive.

“It went back and fourth,” Bennett said. “In the second half, both teams went at it and opened up their offense.”

Toohey--who tied for the state lead in receptions with 80--caught 10 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He expected a different outcome.

“We were beating them physically all night long,” Toohey said. “It’s real easy to play when you’ve got a great quarterback like Bennett.”

The West held a 10-7 halftime advantage. Its lead grew to nine, 16-7, in the third when Bennett found Toohey for a six-yard touchdown pass in the right corner of the end zone with 7:30 to play in the quarter.

Delmatoff connected with Brett Miller of Crescenta Valley for a 27-yard touchdown to cut the lead to three, 16-13, with 3:17 to go in the quarter.

The East went ahead, 20-16, on a two-yard touchdown run by Delmatoff with 7:24 to play in the game.