BY JIM McCONNELL

HAMPTON--Even after leading Louisa's football team to the Division 4 state final as a senior, quarterback Jeff Mehlhaff knew exactly where he stood in the pecking order heading into last night's Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star game.


That's because the East just happened to have one of the nation's most gifted dual-threat quarterbacks on its roster.


Operating a simplified version of Louisa's unique single-wing offense, Virginia Tech signee Tyrod Taylor finished with 208 total yards and two touchdowns as the East routed the West 27-7 at Darling Stadium.


Taylor completed 9-of-14 passes for 174 yards and rushed for 34 more, closing out his high school career as the East's offensive MVP on the same field where he starred for Hampton High School.


"We did some things to give the flavor of our offense, but he does what he does and I'm not going to change that," said Louisa coach Mark Fischer, who called the plays for the East. "At the end of the day, everybody said 'Let Tyrod throw it,' and I did."


Taylor displayed the supreme athleticism that made him a Parade All-American and the Commonwealth's most coveted recruit, routinely leaving West pass-rushers in his wake while showing uncanny accuracy while throwing on the run.


The latest in a long line of talented Tidewater-area quarterbacks, Taylor made a play early in the second half that would've made Michael Vick and Ronald Curry proud.


Clinging to a 14-7 lead, Taylor began a first-and-10 play from his own 35 by looking for a receiver to the left. When that receiver was well covered, he rolled to his right and avoided a sack by West defensive MVP Joshua Spurlock, then heaved an amazing 70-yard spiral to a wide-open Robert Evans Jr.


Defensive back Alonzo Poe made a nice recovery and got into position to make the interception, but the ball deflected off his hands and Evans snagged it at the West 5 before diving into the end zone to complete the play of the night.


"I didn't get it as well as I could've. I've thrown further in practice," Taylor said, and he wasn't kidding.


Fischer even backed up his quarterback's remarkable claim.


"He threw a ball yesterday in practice that hit the jet stream," he said with a smile. "I was like, 'This kid has some kind of arm.'"


Taylor also had his favorite target from high school on the receiving end of most of his passes last night. Former Hampton teammate P.J. Hicks finished with seven catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns--including a 7-yard grab from Mehlhaff that put the East ahead to stay with 4:10 left in the first half.


Mehlhaff got into the game on the East's first series of the second quarter and made an immediate impression, completing a jump pass to Kellam tight end Greg Nosal for 26 yards.


But the drive, which also included a 10-yard run by former high school teammate Shelton, stalled at the West 34 when Mehlhaff was sacked for a 15-yard loss on third down by Powell Valley's Joshua Spurlock.


The West's next possession lasted only one play and ended with an interception by Varina's Marell Evans at the West 30. And after Taylor completed back-to-back passes covering 27 yards, Mehlhaff entered the game and lofted a perfect strike to Hicks in the back of the end zone.


"I knew coming in [Taylor] was going to get most of the snaps," Mehlhaff said. "I think I was kind of overlooked in high school, but that never mattered to me as long as we were winning."


The East's defense contributed mightily to the victory. Louisa's Eric Church finished with four sacks and generally made life miserable for the West's trio of quarterbacks.


Church might have been the East's defensive MVP if not for an otherworldly performance by Varina's Davon Morgan. The soon-to-be Virginia Tech safety recovered two fumbles, returned one 33 yards for the East's first touchdown, added an interception and came within inches of two more picks.