All-Stars Guarantee Good Time Offense Very Likely To Rule The Day In East-West Prep Football Game

There is one thing everyone connected with the East-West All-Star Football Classic agrees on tonight’s game at Albi Stadium is going to be fun.

“That’s the goal,” East coach Mike McLaughlin of Mead said. “The goal was to work on fundamentals, have fun and create memories. It’s always more fun to win. If your goal is to have fun, then that’s the most fun.”

Actually, the whole week has been fun, according to the players, but now they’re ready for action.

“There’s going to be a lot of action. It’s going to be a good game, a lot of hard hits,” said East co-captain Al Cotton, a two-way lineman from Wilson in Tacoma who has signed with Oregon. “Everybody is really hyped up. We’ve had good practices all week. It’s fun just being around all-stars, they’re all great. It’s a privilege to be around these kind of athletes. We have to do our assignments as best we can, get off the ball and take it to them.”

That’s the same message from the other camp.

“You’re going to see the ball in the air from the West,” record-breaking quarterback Drew Miller of Lakes in Tacoma said. “You’re going to see a hard-nosed defense that flies to the ball. It’s going to be fun for the fans.”

Exactly what that means won’t be determined until the 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The East has won the last four games with scores ranging from 47-27 in Everett in 1994 to 17-14 two years ago at Albi. In general, however, offense rules the day because of limitations placed on defenses.

“What’s nice is the defense can’t blitz,” said Miller, who has signed with Brigham Young. “(Ty) Gregorak can’t come after me.”

Gregorak, the all-everything linebacker from West Valley who is headed for Colorado, said, “It’s going to be a good show. I really like the format Coach McLaughlin put it. We’re not beating each other up, we’re saving it for tomorrow night. It’s going to be fun.”

The East hasn’t worked out in full pads all week. The West had two mornings of contact.

“Our goal is to play well,” McLaughlin said. ” There’s a lot to learn. Our job here has been to prepare them to play well. If the majority of our kids do play well, we have a chance to win the game. (Our offense is) very similar to what Mead does. We put the I tailbacks in the slot. Boy, are we quick. They catch the ball well, I think they’re enjoying that.”

East quarterback Sam Baurichter of Gig Harbor, who is going to Washington State, said the players are ready.

“We’re starting to jell as a team,” he said. “All these athletes know the game pretty well so they’re picking it up pretty quick. Everything is pretty basic. It’s similar to my offense at home. We have a great team. I’m just going to go out there and do my best.”

All the socializing has not affected preparations.

“I thought it might be (hard to focus), but all these guys are so intense, they’re all business on the practice field,” Miller said. “This game is for fun. We’ve been working hard all week. If I have a big game, if we have a big game on offense, wonderful. I’m just concentrating on winning. If I have big numbers, that’s just a bonus to a great week.”

With Miller and Washingtonbound quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo of Woodinville, West coach Larry Lunke of Anacortes makes no secret the ball will fly.

“We’re going to mix it up. I think Marques is going to be one hell of a thrower… . We’re going to throw at least 50 percent of the time,” Lunke said. “Defense may be our strength. We’ve got some LBs that are real hitters.”

Bellevue linebacker Justin Johnson said, “We’ve just got to do what we get to do, fly to the ball. (Limitations) are not that big of a deal.”

Gregorak, Miller and Tuiasosopo, along with kicker Jim Skurski of O’Dea, leave Sunday morning for Orlando, Fla., where they will play in the All American Bowl next weekend.

, DataTimes