By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Few people knew what Da’Shon Lunsford had been through when he showed up to play in the Northern Kentucky East-West Senior All-Stars football game on Thursday at Dixie Heights High School.
Earlier in the day, the teenager’s mother, Theresa Crawford, passed away in the hospital. She had been on life support since Monday when she collapsed at her home from cardiac arrest, according to a family member.
Instead of skipping the all-star game, Lunsford decided to honor his mother by playing in it and the recent Lloyd High School graduate was named his team’s most valuable player.
“My mom was a strong woman and everything she had she put in me,” he said. “I grew up in the hood and all she wanted was for us to have a better life. After what she did for us, I’m going to college for her and I’m giving it everything I’ve got for her.”
Lunsford, who will continue his education at Mount St. Joseph University, grew up in a single-parent household with a twin sister and younger brother. As the oldest sibling, doctors needed his permission to take their 37-year-old mother off of life support.
“They came to me and told me I had to make a decision,” Lunsford said. “It was hard, but I knew what I had to do.”
Robert Franklin, a cousin of Lunsford’s mother, came to the all-star game to show his support for Lunsford after everything that took place.
“That would be his mom’s choice, (for him) to go to the game,” Franklin said. “She never missed a game or practice or nothing. She’s here right now, actually, and that just makes it more special for him.”
Lunsford played linebacker for the West team that won the all-star game, 41-30, over the East team. He had a pass interception in the first quarter and a 39-yard punt return in the third quarter.
The East didn’t get a touchdown until the fourth quarter because the West defensive unit played so well. That was another reason Lunsford received the most valuable player award.
“He played awesome in all facets of the game,” said Lloyd head coach Eric Turner. “He kept his head in the game, played his position and didn’t make any errors. Physically, he played his tail off.”
Turner knew about Lunsford’s mother passing away. He told other members of the West coaching staff before the game, but he said Lunsford didn’t want to share it with his teammates. After the game, the player talked about how proud his mother was of him over the past few weeks.
“She got to see me graduate and she was with me when I got this (all-star) jersey,” he said. “She got to see what she always wanted to see.”
Donations to a fund-raising account for Theresa Crawford and her children can be made online via gofundme.com.
The West dominated the first three quarters of the all-star game and had a 28-3 lead going into the fourth quarter. The big plays were a 65-yard touchdown run by Roberto London of Scott late in the first quarter and a 42-yard scoring pass from quarterback Nathan Brown of Cooper to wide receiver Charles Gaines of Lloyd in the final seconds of the third quarter.
The East team scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to close the gap. One of them was a 42-yard pass from quarterback Desean Brumfield of Holmes to wide receiver Mitchell Cain of Highlands. Cain was named most valuable player on the East team. He caught eight passes for 160 yards.
“We struggled at first because none of us have played together for the most part, but we finally started getting it together at the end,” Cain said. “It could have been a much better game, but it was a blast just being able to play in it.”
A large crowd turned out for the all-star game, which raises money for the Northern Kentucky Football Coaches Association scholarship fund. With help from St. Elizabeth Health Care, one player from each of the 20 teams in the association received a $500 check to be used toward their college education.
The association also donated $1,000 to The Point/ARC of Northern Kentucky in memory of former coach Owen Hauck, who died recently. Hauck spent much of his life working with that organization, which provides opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The four finalists for the That’s My Boy Award that goes to the top student-athlete in Northern Kentucky high school football each year also received $1,000 each from the coaches association. They are Brett Slusher of Beechwood, Kyler Padgett of Conner, Sean Sullivan of Holmes and Dillon Powell of Simon Kenton.
EAST 0 3 0 27 – 30
WEST 7 7 14 13 – 41
W – London 65 run (German kick)
W – Ebarb 24 pass from Scott (German kick)
E – Dougherty 27 FG
W – Powell 3 run (German kick)
W – Gaines 42 pass from Brown (German kick)
E – Bolden 13 run (kick failed)
W – Scott 3 run (kick failed)
E – Cain 42 pass from Brumfield (Dougherty kick)
E – Dean 30 pass from Pfefferman (Dougherty kick)
W – Pogliano 55 kickoff return (German kick)
E – Brumfield 2 run (Dougherty kick)