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Sulphur Springs Wildcats Kedrick Dial and Mason Y'Barbo were in Austin last Saturday to represent the
Sulphur Springs Wildcats in the All-American Bowl Game and were members of the winning West Team.

Dial and Y'Barbo Represent Wildcats
In All-American Bowl in Austin, Saturday

Photos by Mitzi Y'Barbo
From "Austin American-Statesman"

Mason Y'Barbo #68 as he plays his Offensive line position in Saturday's game.

Sulphur Springs Wildcat standouts, Mason Y'Barbo and Kedrick Dial, were chosen to play in the first All-American Bowl, hosted in Texas, on Saturday, January 9th, in Austin. The two athletes traveled to Austin and were members of the winning "WEST" team.

Making its Texas debut, the Max Emfinger's All-American Bowl Game Classic was sabotaged somewhat by the unlikeliest of culprits: a frigid week-long forecast.

The lingering cold infringed upon practice time leading up to Emfinger's fifth annual all-star game Saturday at Round Rock ISD Sports Complex. And it wasn't any warmer during the West's 27-12 victory.

"I can't feel my toes," East quarterback Jacob Morgan, an Austin High senior, said afterwards. "We're not used to the cold weather. It affects me. I don't wear a glove when I throw, and today I had to wear a glove."

Morgan was the lone Texas native representing the East, which accounted for six of the game's eight turnovers. The West, with a roster comprised mostly of Texas talent, intercepted the East on four consecutive possessions in the second quarter to take a 21-0 lead into halftime.

East linebacker Mitchell Osborne and cornerback LaKendrick Williams each returned interceptions for touchdowns.

"(The offenses) just never got their plays down with it being so cold," said Emfinger, a Brownwood native who now resides in Baton Rouge, La. "Monday when we went out, we were so cold we had to come back in. Wednesday we went out for 10 minutes and came back in."

Alternating possessions with fellow quarterback Aaron Aiken, Morgan finished 5 of 13 for 148 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Of all the Central Texas players at last week's all-star combine, Emfinger said he was most impressed with Morgan, who does not have any scholarship offers but said he would like to play football and baseball in college.

"He was throwing it 50-60 yards," Emfinger said. "He'll get some looks after this game."

Kedrick Dial #18, shows the skills that landed him a position in the All-American Bowl on Saturday.

LBJ senior tailback Cameron Brown also etched his name into the stat book with two carries for one yard. Initially, Brown volunteered to play safety if it meant making the team. But once Emfinger saw film of him running the ball, he made room for him in the West's crowded backfield.

"He's as good as any running back in the game here," Emfinger said. "He's flying on the (recruiting) radar just like a lot of these guys are."