BAKER CITY — Local fans making the trip to Baker City to watch the 72nd Annual East/West Shrine football game failed to see the ball in the end zone often. What they did witness was a showdown between the graduates of high schools statewide supplying hard hits, drives halted by penalties or big defensive plays and the East taking a 14-6 victory over the West on Saturday, July 29.

In addition to the score of the annual game, the young patients and the Shriners Hospital in Oregon will receive over $50,000 raised from the proceeds and donations of the game.

The first half of the game proved to be nothing but defense. Both the East and West squads were unable to find the end zone and drives by both stalled after defensive stands and penalties. As both teams left the field at the half, double zeroes showed on the scoreboard.

The East was first to find points after a recovery of a West fumble on the first series of the second half. A short drive ended with a 4-yard run for the first score of the game. Going for the two-point conversion and finding success, the East led 8-0 with six minutes left in the third quarter.

The West squad waited until the fourth quarter to score their first and only points. With 9:26 left in the game, a West run pulled the score to 8-6 after the conversion was unsuccessful.

The game ended on a high note for the East. With time running out, a scramble in the final seconds of the game resulted in a West fumble. Picking up the ball with the clock counting down to zero, Vale’s Owen Crane headed the opposite way and into the end zone for a final score of 14-6 for the East victory.

For many of the local talent, the Shrine game was the final chance to strap on pads and helmet and play a game they have loved since childhood. For family and friends, the Shrine game was the final opportunity to cheer on Jarrett Armstrong (La Grande), Cole Martin (Powder Valley), Bo Ledbetter (Union), Myer Whitmore (La Grande) and cheerleader Althea Komiskey (Enterprise).