The 16th Northeast Texas FCA Heart of a Champion All-Star Bowl unfolded at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, where the Blue squad secured a 27-14 victory over the Red team before a lively crowd.
MVP Honors
Kenny Waters of Lufkin and Bryce Pobuda of West Rusk shared the Offensive MVP award, while Brandon “Nunu” Kennedy of Elysian Fields was recognized with the Defensive MVP honor.
Waters powered the Blue offense with 100 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, adding two receptions for 43 yards, while Pobuda contributed seven catches for 130 yards and two scores, plus a nine-yard pass.
Kennedy’s defensive impact shone with a goal-line stop in the third quarter, and he also recorded four passes for 43 yards and a touchdown, plus a 24-yard run.
Key Moments
The Blue team drew first blood with a 12-yard connection from Jaxon Copeland to Kennedy, establishing a 6-0 lead, but the Red answered with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Jaxson Ludlow to Pobuda, flipping the lead to 7-6.
Roger Attaway of Pine Tree extended the Blue advantage with a 56-yard touchdown run, and later Waters capped the half with a three-yard score, pushing the margin to 20-7 at the break.
After a quiet third quarter, the Red narrowed the gap to 20-14 with a 15-yard Ludlow-to-Pobuda strike, but the Blue responded with a fumble recovery by Da’Marion Pickron-Horton that set up a decisive touchdown.
The final score settled at 27-14, highlighted by Vasquez’s successful PAT, and a late interception by Elton Calico sealed the win with 58 seconds remaining.
Community Impact
The event was presented by Christus Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, in partnership with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Arkansas Tech, East Texas Baptist and Eastern New Mexico, underscoring the collaborative spirit of regional sports.