Blue-Grey All-American Bowl: Grey 27, Blue 20

Troy commit Kyle Toole participated in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl at Atlanta Falcons’ Mercedes Benz Stadium. (Photo courtesy of Martha Needham of Cullman Tribune)

It was a game within the game. Two quarterbacks. Both from Georgia. Going toe-to-toe. The stage, no less, was the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl on Jan. 13 at Atlanta Falcons’ Mercedes Benz Stadium in a showdown of the best from the Class of 2020.

In the end, Kyle Toole prevailed. The Troy commit was named offensive MVP and finished up 12-of-15 for 139 passing yards and 49 rushing yards, with a pair of touchdowns, in a victory for Grey over Blue, 27-20, during a national broadcast on ESPN3.

His counterpart, Blaine McAllister, was up for the challenge. The Princeton commit was 14-of-17 for 183 passing yards with two touchdowns for the Blue. Also, his potential game-tying scoring drive late in the fourth quarter fell short in the red zone.

McAllister was not alone. Missouri Valley Football Conference target Tre’on Fairgood-Jones scored twice in the final seven minutes for the Blue. With a different outcome, he and McAllister would’ve certainly been in running for Toole’s award.

Tulane commit Matthew Lombardi, Iowa State commit Joe Lilienthal and American Athletic Conference target Chad Layton opened holes for Mountain West Conference target David Moore and Big South Conference target Kemari McGowan on the Blue.

Mountain West Conference target Tylor Stubs, Big Sky Conference target Stephen Summers and Missouri Valley Football Conference target Vili Hafoka also did well on the line for the Blue, in large part for Pioneer Football League target Kamal Gray.

North Dakota commit Quinn Urwiler couldn’t be stopped for the Blue and was named Defensive MVP for his efforts. Worth mentioning, Iowa commit Isaiah Bruce and South Dakota State commit Brandon Lane created havoc in the backfield throughout.

MAC target Tyler Roberson provided one of the more memorable moments for the Grey. He blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. With nearly double-digit tackles, his name was in the mix for Defensive MVP.

Limited for the most part during the game, and practice, Pac-12 Conference target Jordan Allen and Eastern Michigan commit Evan Egan made their presence felt for the Blue. Both of them, worth noting, emerged as extensions of the coaching staff.

South Dakota State commit Daeton McGaughy, North Dakota State commit Marques Sigle and UAB commit Amari Maddox for the Blue strengthened their growing reputations. Big Sky Conference target Rashod Tanner did well, too.

There was no shortage of highlights. ACC target Tyquan Rawls, Sun Belt Conference target Devin DeLaine and Big South Conference target Jeremy Thompson delivered interceptions for the Grey. SEC target An’Darius Coffey nearly had one of his own.

Alabama State commit Dylan Creech, Samfrod commit Josiah Cotton and Sun Belt Conference target Landon Spooner made plays for the Grey. Same for Big South Conference target Kobi Roy and Southern Conference Camar Kyle, among others.

Big Sky Conference target Devin Dye, Mountain West Conference target Ben Beecher and Missouri Valley Football Conference Ben Reppenhagen delivered results for the Blue. So did MEAC targets Brayden Mullins and Nathan Caldwell.

Up front for the Grey, without question, Georgia commit Weston Wallace was a man among boys. He teamed with Jacksonville State commit Dallas Ingram, Big South Conference target Cade Gothard and Southern Conference target Baron Franks.

Missouri Football Conference target Cole Kirk directed the Grey offense. His main options were Navy commit Jayden Sullins, Western Kentucky commit Drake Alsup, Ohio Valley Conference target Cortezz Jones and MEAC target Jaleel Johnson.

The victory was especially sweet for NFL veteran and Grey head coach Dick Bell, his first win in three previous attempts. Credit should also be given to NFL veteran trainer and offensive coordinator Rodney Beasley, the rest of Bell’s staff as well.

NFL assistant and Blue head coach George Martinez was in charge and had help from NFL veterans Mark McMillian, Arlen Harris, Fred Barnett and Eric Allen, among other one-time professionals which included NFL veteran trainer Reggie Young.