Football
Radney helps East win Cap City Senior Bowl
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Andrea Kjerrumgaard/ThisWeek
Canal Winchester’s Antonio Whitfield of the East squad races past the West’s Zach Morro during the Cap City Senior Bowl on June 16 at Reynoldsburg.
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PrintOvertime in the fifth annual Cap City Senior Bowl provided an opportunity for retribution for Pickerington North graduate TaBeal Radney.
Radney, who early in the game dropped an interception and later had an extra point blocked, intercepted a pass from Grandview quarterback Oliver Rouch of the West all-stars in overtime and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown to give the East a 19-13 victory June 16 at Reynoldsburg.
The Akron recruit also punted and made an extra point as he earned the team's defensive MVP award.
"They were trying to run a bubble (screen) over the top to (Columbus West's) Fred Lee, but the ball went in front of me," Radney said. "I had a chance at an interception earlier in the game, but (Lee) actually got it from me."
The East took a 7-0 first-quarter lead when Groveport quarterback Shane Denny hit Africentric's Tyronne Browning for a 65-yard touchdown.
Ready kicker John Wright of the West then made field goals of 22 yards in the first and 29 in the second to make it 7-6.
In the third, the East made it 13-6 when Walnut Ridge quarterback Fred Hardgrove hit Westerville Central's Max Shawver for a 27-yard touchdown. Radney's extra-point try was blocked by DeSales' R.J. Ball.
With three minutes remaining in regulation, the West tied it on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Brookhaven's Tajuan Green to Lee.
The West had a chance to win it during the final minute of regulation. Wright was about to attempt a 42-yard field goal when the East was whistled for offsides, giving the West an automatic first down with 19 seconds left.
On the next play, Wright attempted a 37-yard field goal that was blocked, but the East was penalized for having 12 players on the field. Wright then lined up for a third attempt but missed wide left.
That set up the opportunity for Radney in overtime.
"It was pretty much a defensive battle," said Mifflin assistant Glenn Blue, who coached one of the teams in the inaugural Cap City Senior Bowl and led the East all-stars. "You only get a week of practice and you can't blitz, so some of the rules make it hard, but it's a good overall experience. It was a great time for the kids."
According to game organizer Anthony Murphy, there were about 2,500 in attendance.
Browning was named the offensive MVP for the East and Lee was selected the offensive MVP for the West. Beechcroft's Shaquille Minnifield had a first-quarter interception and earned MVP honors on defense for the West.
Others East players who impressed included Westerville South's Jarrod Barnes (DB), Westerville Central's Cody Kondas (LB) and Groveport's Melvin Smith (RB), Blue said.
The West was coached by Beechcroft's Bruce Ward.
"Obviously we had three cracks at a field goal, and then it went into overtime and we threw the pick," Ward said. "It's obviously easier to get a defense ready than an offense, but it was a good game. I think it was just a bad read (by Rouch on the interception in overtime).
"Fred Lee was impressive. He plays in the (City League-South Division), but I'd heard a lot about him and then you see him and he's only about (5-foot-5). He's a real football player. We had a great center from Upper Arlington, Spencer Luallen, who was just a joy to be around. His presence helped our offensive line."
