SAN ANTONIO — With the frustration on his face glowing under the Alamodome lights, former Bastrop wide receiver Auston Shipley entered the fourth quarter wondering if he was going to get his chance.
He finally got it.
Quarterback Stump Godfrey (Gilmer) found Shipley in the back of the endzone at the 10 minute mark of the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game to give the South All-Stars a 22-17 lead.
The play called — ”smash,” a 10-yard corner route to the endzone — was Shipley’s favorite play in the playbook and it allowed him to become the first Bastrop player to score in the history of the all-star game.
It was a glorifying moment for the Bear’s leading receiver for the last two seasons, who, on his only opportunity of the game, made the most of it.
“I was getting in, but wasn’t getting anything thrown my way,” Shipley said. “(Godfrey and I) have only been together for three days, so we don’t have much of a connection. I was just hoping that he would realize that I would be open and throw it to me and he did.”
The South went on to defeat the North All-Stars 36-23, with the help of three touchdowns by Lake Travis’ Andy Erickson, who was named the game’s offensive MVP.
Erickson scores included a 97-yard kick return, a 73-yard punt return and a 17-yard touchdown catch.
If that wasn’t enough, Erickson pulled down an interception in the fourth quarter and nearly scored again.
Central Texas players shined bright at the all-star game, including Westlake’s Bryce Hager, who scored the South’s first points on a safety with 4:45 left in the first quarter.
For a game that drug most of the first half, the “Andy Erickson Show” made for an exciting second half that saw 46 points scored in contrast to just 16 in the first half.
Erickson’s 97-yard kick return for a touchdown was the second longest in the game’s history and his 73-yard punt return was the third longest.
As for Shipley, who had one pass thrown in his direction, but saw action on several plays, the experience was something he’ll never forget.
“Not many people get a chance to play here,” Shipley said. “Only 60 players out of the whole state of Texas get a chance to play in this game, so it’s a big thing for me to even be a part of it. I met some great players and some great coaches and I was just grateful that I got to play and score in the all-star game.”
Shipley will play at Blinn College in Brenham in the fall.