California Prep Stars Hold Off Florida, 21-11

For a first-time high school all-star football game, the CaliFlorida Bowl had plenty in common with most of its counterparts.

Many proud players eager to defend their turf, hit-and-miss (mostly miss) offense and enough big plays to keep the crowd entertained most of the night.

When it was over, California held on for a 21-11 victory over Florida before 9,200 at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

Florida’s team lacked any recruits from the University of Florida--Coach Steve Spurrier has them all in summer school and unavailable--and was without a legitimate passing threat at quarterback, but the all-stars from the South held their own for most of the evening.

If not for two turnovers in the final minutes of the game, Florida might have mounted a rally after California’s offense mostly stalled in the second half.

But California did enough early to take a 15-3 halftime lead, led by running back Manuel White, a graduate of Valencia High, who scored two first-half touchdowns, and linebacker Bernard Thomas of Mountain View St. Francis, who dominated the line of scrimmage.

Thomas sparked the defense all game, coming up with a vicious hit on Florida running back Johnny Mack, forcing a fumble with 3:24 left, and earlier making several tackles for losses.

California’s only touchdown of the second half came on quarterback Chris Rix’s 34-yard pass to future USC wide receiver Keary Colbert after the Hueneme graduate got behind defensive backs Leroy Smith and J.R. Reed and walked into the end zone after the catch.

Rix, a Santa Margarita product who will attend Florida State, showed why he was so sought after during the recruiting season by making a number of athletic throws and nifty runs on scrambles and keepers.

With his team trailing 3-0 in the first quarter, California’s Alvin Marshall, from Locke High, returned a kickoff 80 yards to the Florida 11. But that drive stalled and California was ready to settle for a field goal by John Wall.

But as Wall converted, he was hit late by Florida’s Seth Cumbie, which gave California a first-and-goal at the three. Two plays later, White ran over right tackle for a 7-3 lead.

Florida’s next possession took a negative turn after two plays when Thomas made one of his many contributions of the first half. Thomas, a Nebraska recruit, tackled Florida quarterback Dominique Dunbar for a safety as the 6-2, 175-pounder scrambled in the end zone, making it a 9-3 California lead.

On California’s next possession, quarterback Matt Cassel of Chatsworth, who will attend USC, then led his team on an eight-play drive that culminated with White taking a hitch up the left sideline after going in motion out of the backfield. The UCLA recruit immediately turned it upfield before Florida had a chance to react and darted inside the left flag.