Captures Sunshine all-star game with second-half rally
By: Justin Feil
EWING With rain and Sunshine, the only thing missing was the rainbow at Thursday’s Sunshine Classic.
Despite lightning and soggy conditions that thankfully made the second quarter of play its only victim, there were plenty bright spots on both sides of the West’s 14-6 win over the East.
"Tonight was great," said West linebacker Brad Pietras, a graduate of The Hun School. "Even with the weather, it was a lot of fun. I’m glad we got to come back out and play the second half of the game."
The West trailed, 6-0, when West Windsor-Plainsboro South graduate Ryan Lupo rushed in from four yards out to end the first quarter.
"It was a good level of play," said Lupo, who was named the Most Outstanding East Back. "They were really good competition. It was fun. It was good competition. Playing in the rain was fun."
The East would have liked to play a little better after the rains came. After a missed extra point, approaching thunderstorms sent players and fans out of the stadium for an hour and 20 minutes. It was time well spent on the West side.
"We were waiting to play," Pietras said. "We made an adjustment and then we were ready to play. We couldn’t wait to play. We came back out and used our energy."
While the West seemed invigorated, the delay seemed to cost the East its momentum. They crossed midfield again just once in the second half, midway through the fourth quarter when Lupo slipped down at the end of a 19-yard run. They never seemed as effective after the long delay.
"I thought it was going to be cancelled," Lupo said. "A lot of people took their shoulder pads off because they thought it was over. I didn’t. I think we kind of lost it there."
When the ark-building stopped and play resumed, it was Pietras and the West that made the bigger plays to rally for the win, the second straight for the West. It was also the third straight year in which thunderstorms have affected the game.
"They were going to run regardless (of the weather)," Pietras said. "We still were able to pass the ball and run."
The West took the lead late in the third quarter, 7-6, when Terence Thomas scored on a 2-yard plunge to the left side, following the blocking of Hun tackle Randy Mershon. Also on the winning West team was Montgomery’s wide receiver Mike Andrew and noseguard Mike Jasper. Jasper and Pietras were instrumental in slowing the East rushing attack to give their West offense the chance to rally after falling behind just before the break.
"I think we were more excited to play," Pietras said. "We didn’t want to end the game like that. We came out with a lot of energy.
"We just made a line adjustment," he added. "We knew they were going to run, especially with it raining. They knew they wanted to play power ball."
Eventually, the West offense was able to take advantage of one more opportunity. After its defense forced a punt after tackling Alexz Henriques of Princeton High School for a 2-yard loss, the East picked up the final touchdown of the game on an 80-yard run by Lawrence’s Bayshawn Wells with barely five minutes left.
"We were winning at the time, but it’s always good when our team scores," Pietras said. "It was a big momentum boost."
Added Lupo after his team could not answer the score, "It made it tougher. It was a great run. It killed us. We only had like three minutes left then."
And with the West limiting any gains, the East never got farther than its own 41 before it lost possession on downs. After the game, there were warm handshakes from both sides as players participated in their final scholastic competition.
"I think it was completely original," said Pietras, who will play at La Salle University in the fall. "It was a new experience playing with people I’ve only played with two weeks and coaches I’ve only just gotten to know. I don’t think anything compares to it. It’s totally new.
"A lot of these kids are playing in college. Everybody looked great. We meshed well as a team. Our offense gave us a good look. We knew what they were going to do. They wanted to play hard-nosed football. The tougher team was going to win."
Pietras had been in a wet win before. As a junior, he was part of the Hun team that beat Lawrenceville in rainy conditions. After Thursday’s win, he was one of the last West players into the locker room.
"I was talking to my parents," he said. "They waited through the same weather. I had to show them some love."
Pietras came away happy that they were some of the 2,617 fans that did return after the long delay. He enjoyed the chance for a little football in the midst of a summer shower.
"This game was a good springboard into my next year," he said. "All the kids were college players. A lot of people don’t have the opportunity to play at this time. I thought it was a great opportunity."
Despite the loss, so did Lupo. He also enjoyed his final high school game before heading off to Williams College. The single-season rushing touchdown record holder for the Pirates, he went out fittingly with a rushing touchdown.
"I wanted to score a touchdown," Lupo said. "I wanted to win also. I didn’t want to get hurt.
"It was fun. It was nice to be able to get after it. I’m glad this wasn’t my last game."
Like so many of the players in the Sunshine Classic, the all-star game was a starting point as they look to the next level, not an ending point. For the West players, they start with a win to build on for the remainder of their summer. And for the East squad, they have the experience to work with and the encouragement that things can get even brighter as they go forward.
"It was a good atmosphere," Lupo said. "I wish it didn’t rain. There would have been a bigger crowd then."

