Jan. 8, 2005

Kingsville, Tex. - Keyonta Marshall, Grand Valley States three-time all-american defensive tackle, was named the Defensive MVP of the Cactus Bowl. Marshall tallied seven tackles, including two tackles for loss and played in the West's offensive backfield for much of the game.

The following is a reprinted story from the Cactus Bowl web site.

Catawba's Justin Samples hit Tuskeegee's Harry Williams with a 30-yard touchdown stike with 5:50 left in the game to lead the East squad to an 18-15 come-from-behind win in the sixth annual Cactus Bowl Friday night at Javelina Stadium.

Samples, who was named the games Offensive MVP, hit on 14-of-23 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns. His 192 yards passing tied the Cactus Bowl record set last season by Will Hall. Williams finished the game with 63 yards receiving on five catches. Grand Valley State's Keyonta Marshall was named the Defensive MVP as he harrassed West quarterbacks all night, picking up seven tackles, including two for loss. Michigan Tech's Joe Berger earned the Jim Langer Award as the top offensive lineman in the game.

The East team took the early lead, driving 45 yards in 10 plays with the games opening kickoff. Carson-Newman quarterback Shane Kelly passed for 28 yards on the drive, which culminated in a 22-yard Williams Rhody field goal. The East increased it's advantage in the second quarter. Samples hit Timothy Pope of Presbyterian with a Cactus Bowl record 50-yard pass to put the East on the West 15-yard line. Two plays later Samples threw a fade pass to Mars Hill College's Roderick DeWalt that DeWalt made a spectacular leaping catch in the end zone to give the East a 10-0 lead.

The West finally got on the board in the second quarter when the East team snapped the ball out of the end zone on an attempted punt for a safety. After a missed field goal on their ensuing possession the West kept the momentum of the safety by driving 74 yards in six plays led by Pittsburg State's Neil Philpot. Philpot only completed one pass on the drive, but it was a big one, a 38-yard strike to Humboldt State's Dustin Creager, to cut the East advantage to just one at 10-9.That was where the score stood at the half.

The West team continued its strong play behind Philpot on the first drive of the second half, taking the ball 49 yards in nine plays, culminating with a one-yard Ray Gates (Tarleton State) plunge on fourth down. The score gave the West it's first lead at 15-10, which is where the score would stay until Samples' hookup with Williams.

Philpot had a solid performance for the West squad, hitting on 5-of-10 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 69 yards on 16 carries. Creager led the way in receiving, making four catches for 60 yards. DeMarcus Mathes of Missouri Southern had two catches for 50 yards. For the East squad Pope had six catches for 101 yards. DeWalt finished with 50 yards on three catches.

With the win the East cut the West's advantage in the all-time series of the Division II All-Star Games (the game was called the Snow Bowl when it was played in Fargo, N.D. for six years) to just 7-4-1. The East has won three of the last four games.