Virginia high school QB shines in all-star game

SAN ANTONIO - Tajh Boyd threw three touchdown passes, including a pair to Miami-bound Bryce Brown, and the East high school stars beat the West 30-17 in U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday.

Boyd - who starred at Phoebus High School in Hampton, Va., and hasn't committed to a college - gave his team a 20-10 lead in the third quarter on a 60-yard touchdown to Brown.

Brown, from Wichita, Kan., scored again when Boyd found him behind the West defense for a 41-yard TD that gave the East a 30-10 lead with 6:16 remaining.

It didn't take Boyd long to get going after he entered the game midway through the second quarter. On his first series, he completed a 34-yard pass on third-and-13 to Michigan-bound Jeremy Gallon. Two plays later, he found Corey Brown in the end zone for a 14-3 East lead with 1:55 left in the first half.

Corey Brown, a 6-foot-1 receiver headed to Ohio State from Monroeville, Pa., jumped over double coverage to make the catch before coming down awkwardly and needing a few moments to get back to his feet.

Boyd, who finished 7-of-9 passing for 187 yards, has made official visits to Ohio State and Oregon and is interested in Boston College and Clemson. He backed out of a commitment to West Virginia.

Boyd's production overshadowed a big defensive effort by Willie Downs of Tallahassee, Fla. A 6-3 defensive back headed to Florida State, Downs gave the East a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 49-yard interception return against West quarterback A.J. McCarron.

McCarron, a Mobile, Ala., product headed to Alabama, had to hurry his throw because of pressure from East defensive end Donte Moss, who put a hard hit on him. Moss, of Jacksonville, N.C., plans to play for North Carolina.

Downs was active on defense before his score. He deflected McCarron's first throw on what looked to be a sure touchdown. Downs also forced a fumble and a 9-yard loss on a short pass attempt by the West before halftime.

McCarron completed the scoring on a 46-yard TD pass to Chris Whaley with 3:54 left in the game.