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East wins Grin Iron Classic football game
Nevada Daily Mail
SPRINGFIELD -- For just the second time in 13 years, the East squad won the Grin Iron Classic football game Friday night, at JFK Stadium.
Last year's game was the closest in the event's history, as the West squad scored the winning touchdown with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter to take its first lead of the night, at 21-17. That proved to be all the West needed, holding on to take its 11th win.
This year's contest was very different, as the East squad took off early and unlike last year, maintained the lead on the way to a 40-27 victory.
Camdenton's Bo Dean, who finished the year with first team All-Conference and All-District honors, claimed the East's offensive MVP award, after passing for four touchdowns. Parkview All-State defensive back Maurice Downey was the defensive MVP, after finishing his high school career playing on his home field.
On the other side, Seneca's Braxton Graham took the West offensive MVP award, while Hayden Prater, of Cassville, won the award on defense.
The West now leads the all-time series, 11-2.
The weekend -- which also included an all-star volleyball tournament -- featured 130 graduated seniors and 28 coaches, in a showcase of some of the best high school athletes in the region. Among the athletes in this year's GIC were Nevada's Keegan Bell and Alex Payne.
Payne was a late addition to the West roster as a quarterback, while Bell was a defensive back.
The Grin Iron Classic benefits the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, or the "Tooth Truck," a mobile dental clinic for children with no access to dental care. Since its creation in 2002, the Tooth Truck has helped more than 16,000 children via 40,000 appointments.
The total value of care provided is a whopping $9.3 million in treatment, prevention, and education.