Phoenix,AZ – The 7th Annual CFL All Star game was one of those games that you wait all year to see.
Both teams were filled to the brim with the leagues best players, chosen by league owners and coaches. The players were dressed out in their team uniforms, presenting a Kodak picture moment of multiple colors on the green field of Moon Valley High School. All league staff workers and officials donated their services to assist in raising funds for this charity event for the families of the leagues three players who died during the 2009 season. Defense was the name of the game on this night, as both teams were loaded with power on the line and speed in the defensive backfield. North defender 45 Mike Talbot from the Glendale Rangers was chosen as the MVP with his enormous defensive play. With 12 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 interception, there is no wonder he was chosen as the games MVP, helping his team win 21 7. The game saw no score until 3:22 was remaining on the clock in the first quarter. North quarterback 3 Kory Smith of the Glendale Rangers connected with WR 84 Mike Cvelbar of the Phoenix Outlaws for a 36 yard touch down passing play that saw Cvelbar carry two defenders on his back as he crossed the goal line. This is one of those plays you can see again by purchasing a color DVD of the game from the leagues videographer Agape Video Productions. The PAT (Point After Touch Down) was good by Glendale Ranger kicker 11 Chad Werley. Score North 7 South 0. With just three (3) seconds remaining in the half, the North defense made what many thought to be the play of the game, an interception by Glendale Rangers defender 3 Rodney Wesley who returned the intercepted pass for an amazing run of 76 yards for the TD. The PAT was good by Arizona Thunder ace kicker 10 Berislav Zbozinek. Score North All Stars 14 South All Stars 0. The 20-minute halftime intermission had fans in the stands talking. The South All Stars were being held to minimum offensive yards and had no points on the board. Loaded with Copper Bowl VII champion Tri-City Titan players, the fans were anxious to see the South explode offensively in the second half. The fans were not to be disappointed, as the South All Stars got on the board with 3:11 remaining in the 3rd quarter with a strong drive down the field and a 1 yard TD run by veteran TB 28 Myron McGruder of the Tri-City Titans. The PAT was good by Peoria Patriots kicker 12 Mike Navarro. Score North 14 South 7.
Strong defensive play on both sides of the line held each team scoreless for the remainder of the game until the 6:54 mark of the 4th quarter. The South All Stars were successfully driving the length of the field, and preparing to score, when North defender 40 Gary Stevenson of the Phoenix Outlaws recovered a lose ball on the five yard line and returned it 95 yards for a North TD. This was truly the play of the game, as Stevenson was apparently stopped on numerous occasions as he dodged tacklers with his 95 yard run. The PAT was good by Glendale Rangers kicker 11 Chad Werley. Score North 21 South 7. And that is how the game ended.