Brookville’s Thomas helps East to All-American all-star win

Brookville senior Logan Thomas, one of four Virginia representatives in Saturday’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, had direct connections with two of the other three in the East All-Stars’ 30-17 victory.

After rooming with 6-foot-7, 326-pound offensive tackle Morgan Moses of Meadowbrook High near Richmond throughout the week, Thomas caught two passes from Western Branch quarterback Kevin Newsome in the ninth-annual contest, broadcast live on NBC.

His second reception, a 42-yarder late in the third quarter, set up a 35-yard field goal by Brendan Gibbons early in the fourth, extending the East’s lead to 23-10.

Phoebus quarterback Tajh Boyd, the fourth Virginia player selected to the game, was one of its biggest stars, completing touchdown passes of 60 and 41 yards to U.S. Army Player of the Year Bryce Brown of Kansas before and after Gibbons’ field goal.

“It’s awesome, a great feeling,” Thomas said of being on the winning side, giving the East squad a 5-4 edge over the West in the series. “It was a great start to my college playing career.”

Thomas and Newsome started on alternating series with Boyd and Brown, the game’s co-MVPs, so Thomas lined up at wideout for approximately half of the East squad’s offensive snaps. He also attempted one pass, off a wide receiver screen, intended for Brown, who beat two defenders before dropping what would have been his first touchdown reception.

Accompanied by the majority of his coaching staff at Brookville and playing his preferred position of wide receiver, Thomas felt right at home in the Alamodome.

“It was a great experience for me playing against some of the best high school players in America,” said Thomas, who led the Bees to state semifinal and championship games, respectively, in his last two seasons at quarterback, throwing for a VHSL state title game record 393 yards in a 50-46 loss to James Monroe on Dec. 6 at Liberty University. “It was great to play my natural position. It definitely showed me what I needed to work on. It was a way higher level (than high school).”

The week was a blur of activities for Thomas, who said meeting Army veterans ranked among the highlights.

“We got to go to so many different places and meet Army heroes just getting back from Iraq,” he said.

Thomas heard about the death of Brookville principal Jim Whorley in a Saturday morning boating accident in southern Virginia soon after he arrived in Texas.

“I had just gotten here (and) I was very upset,” he said, noting he played for his school in memory of its principal. “I was definitely inspired. He was one of my good friends and mentors. I know he’d have wanted me to come out here and play my hardest and I know he’s in heaven now, looking down on us and smiling.”

Thomas, a Virginia Tech recruit, watched the Hokies’ Orange Bowl victory over Cincinnati on New Year’s night before getting the opportunity to take the stage in the all-star showdown played before 33,000 fans.

“I’m really excited about it,” he said of continuing his career at Tech. “This is just another step. I’m definitely looking forward to getting used to that (college bowl-type) atmosphere.”

Notes: Jefferson Forest fullback and defensive end Andrew Brown competed against 500 of the nation’s top high school juniors in the U.S. Army All-American Football Combine on Thursday and Friday. He played linebacker in the event.

Also, Greg Thompson, a senior baritone player for the Cavaliers’ marching band, performed in the U.S. Army All-American Band’s rendition of “Red Hot White and Blue” during the halftime ceremonies.