D.J. Monroe's huge game couldn't prevent an incredible comeback Tuesday night.

The Angleton graduate and University of Texas commit was spectacular for the South team in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Football Game at the Alamodome, but the North scored 16 points in the final two minutes to win 16-15.

The North trailed 15-0 with 1:38 left, but Riley Dodge's 38-yard touchdown pass to Seth Gardner broke the shutout. Then after a successful onside kick, Braden Smith tossed a 37-yard score to Jeremy Watson with 1:24 to play.

The North successfully made another onside kick, then Ben Parks from Argyle gave them the lead on a 41-yard field goal with 25 seconds left.

"The two onside kicks — that was crazy enough," said Parks, who had plenty of practice tackling the last two seasons as a linebacker and defensive end at Argyle. "The first three quarters I think I stepped on the field four times. I was just kind of sitting there by myself kind of bored, the game was going by kind of slowly.

"And those last five minutes it was boom, boom, boom. My heart rate was going up for about five minutes straight."

Monroe, who finished with 120 yards rushing and a touchdown on nine carries and had another 100 return yards, split defenders on a reverse for a 66-yard score minutes into the third quarter. Cody Renken caught a 50-yard touchdown minutes later for a 15-0 lead.

Monroe nearly put the South in position to win the game.

Following Parks' field goal, Monroe fielded the kickoff from 4 yards deep in the end zone and returned it to the North 32. The South elected to kick the game-winning field goal with nine seconds left, but Drew Nelson's 45-yard attempt was blocked.

"Honestly, I didn't have anything more to give," Monroe said. "I was pushing it. I was trying to put it in for my team. But I had a good game."

The MVPs were voted on before the North scored, meaning all three were from the losing team. Monroe earned the offensive honor, and Lamar Consolidated's Chuck Obi split defensive honors with defensive end Marlowe Poitier.

Dodge, a Southlake Carroll grad who will play for his father and former Dragons coach, Todd, next year at North Texas, finished 13-of-20 for 136 yards and an interception.

Other local players in the game, all playing for the South, were Cypress Ridge cornerback Royce Hill (North Texas commit), Katy safety Trent Hunter (Texas A&M), Eisenhower defensive tackle Rod Davis (A&M), Pearland center Brian Thomas (A&M), Cypress Falls receiver Darius Bolden (Texas State), Fort Bend Clements tight end Walker Dille (TCU) and Stratford defensive tackle Jimmy Burge (Missouri).

End notes
The THSCA reported 12,485 coaches were registered for the coaching school and all-star games. The events will be held in Austin next year — from July 19-22, a week earlier than this year — and will return to San Antonio in 2010. Austin will host the convention for just the second time; the other was in 2006.

The Associated Press contributed.

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