The West won a tough and evenly matched contest 21-14 in this year’s Casino Bowl VIII in Las Vegas Nevada. Whenever the half-time score is tied 14-14 and the game is decided by one score; we know that the contest was exciting and well played. Casino Bowl VIII displayed 73 very determined football players representing 32 teams nationwide and 19 leagues. The game was truly a defensive contest as three of the five players chosen for MVP recognition came from the defensive side of the football.

Fred Robinson, DE from the St. Louis Bulldogs played a monster game and intimidated the West offense throughout the game with a powerful pass rush and dominant run defense. Also MVP from the East squad was DB, Tumua Vitale who came up from the secondary to support against the run with some vicious hits. Vitale plays for the Island Warriors of the United States Indoor Football League.

For the West Defensive Lineman Earl Ingram 6-2, 330 was clearly the defensive MVP for the his team as he controlled the line of scrimmage and penetrated to cause problems for the East offense. Offensively for the West, Charles Klug, WR, from the Minnesota Maulers turned in a fine game blocking, catching passes and stretching the East defensive secondary.

The player of the game was Willie Garrett of the Nevada Falcons. The 6-2, 218 RB turned in a spectacular run with a screen pass in the second quarter right before halftime. The West did not capitalize with a score and the half ended 14-14.

In the 4th quarter Garrett scored the winning touchdown of the game on a broken play. East DE Fred Robinson penetrated to block a pass that was scooped up by Garrett who made a powerful and athletic broken-field run to put the West ahead 21-14.

Although Casino Bowl VIII was a defensive game it started out with some great offensive by the West. QB Gary Griffin of the Racine Raiders kept a long drive with some great scrambling and scored on a 1 yard rollout.

The East came back with a score and tied the game up 7-7. Gary Griffin put the West up again on another 1 yard run. With the score West 14 – East 7; QB Robert Hunt of the Detroit Seminoles hit Roy Granger, also of the Seminoles, with a long pass to tie the score before half –time 14-14.

In the 3rd quarter the East squad faced an entire period of bad field position. The East offensive line was impressive but negated by the poor field position, penalties, and the defensive front of the West. Linebackers Pete Deates and Alex Powell, both from the Racine Raiders and Antwon Jones from the South Bend (IN) Stampede showed flashes of defensive brilliance and kept the East from getting out of their own territory.

The East defensive also stepped up and the West was held to only one score; Garrett’s big run. MLB Bill Benitez 6-0, 255 from the Brooklyn Mariners played well by making key plays during the second half.

Casino Bowl VIII marked the third win by the West and turned out to be well played with excitement generated by dedicated football players who came to play, coaching staffs who brought direction and the Casino Bowl staff who provided the organizational structure.