Bookman, Frost Lead West Victory Cardinal Back, Ex-Qb Play Key Roles In Annual Shrine Classic

Stanford’s Anthony Bookman, playing a final game in his home stadium, ran for a touchdown and his long kickoff return set up a score as the West All-Stars beat their counterparts from the East 24-7 in Saturday’s 73rd East-West Shrine Classic.

It was the West’s seventh victory in the last nine editions of the game, which benefits Shriners Hospitals for Children and is a showcase for some of the nation’s top senior players.

Steady rains drenched the Stanford Stadium field and the treacherous conditions made it tough on both teams.

Bookman, who completed his career as the No. 3 rusher in Stanford history, was surefooted enough to run for 70 yards on eight carries. Fresno State’s Michael Pittman added 71 yards on 15 attempts.

Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost, who began his collegiate career at Stanford, was 8 of 13 for 68 yards for the West with an interception. North Carolina’s Chris Keldorf was 7 of 16 for 75 yards for the East.

Trailing by seven, the East was driving toward a tying score, getting inside the 10 on a 27-yard pass from Keldorf to Wisconsin’s Tony Simmons. Two plays later, Keldorf lobbed a pass over the middle that was intercepted by Arizona State safety Damien Richardson.

Frost then led the West on a 75-yard, 14-play drive ending in a 32-yard field goal by Wyoming’s Cory Wedel, boosting the West’s lead to 17-7 with six seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Brigham Young’s Dustin Johnson added a 2-yard touchdown run for the West with 10:32 remaining.

The West led 14-7 at halftime, snapping a tie on Bookman’s 5-yard scoring run midway through the second period.

A shanked punt by Dave Miller-Johnston of Canada’s Concordia College traveled only 19 yards, giving the West possession at the East 37. Bookman swept around left end, breaking away for a 32-yard gain to set up his off-tackle scoring run.

Duke’s Tawambi Settles grabbed his second interception of the game when he snared a pass from Colorado’s John Hessler in the end zone late in the second quarter.