CONWAY -- Brandon Gates had a much easier time finding the end zone Friday night than he did getting added to the West All-Star football roster.
Gates, who found out only two weeks ago that he would be added to the team, scored on runs of 2 and 7 yards while helping the West upend the East, 23-14, in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association's All-Star Football Game at Estes Stadium.
Gates ran eight times for 49 yards. He also caught four passes from Heritage teammate Josh Qualls for 48 yards. His 7-yard run with 8:00 left in the third quarter put the West on top for good.
Gates was left off the original West roster, but when several West team members declined all-star invitations, Heritage Coach Perry Escalante told Gates he would do everything he could to get the War Eagles' running back into the all-star game.
"He believed I should have been here," Gates said of his coach's efforts. "I think I came out here and proved it too."
"I told him to stay ready and stay in the weight room," said Escalante, who was an assistant on the West coaching staff. "What a big pickup he was for us. I told our [coaches] that you don't know what you're getting because Brandon is a good one.
"He proved that tonight."
Gates got his opportunity early, breaking off a 19-yard run on the West's first offensive possession to move them to the East 1. Three plays later, Gates scored from the 2.
"The line made it real easy for me," said Gates, who has signed with Harding University. "There were just some wide-open holes. All I had to do was lower my shoulder and bulldoze my way through."
After the West squandered an early 14-0 lead, Gates helped the West retake the lead on their first drive of the second half.
Gates' second touchdown capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive that was set up by a 41-yard pass from Qualls to Charleston's Chance Shelby.
"We came out in the second half like we did at the start of the game, with our guns blazing," Gates said. "Our passing game was great all game. Our receivers were just amazing. [Qualls] was throwing bullets all night."
Gates said he benefited from playing four years together with Qualls.
"We had some chemistry," Gates said. "I knew where to go. Whenever he started scrambling, he knew where I was going to go too."
Escalante said Gates and Qualls can play on the next level.
"With the quality of talent that was on the field and them doing as well as they did, it just proves what kind of football players they are."
Sports on 06/28/2014