Free State's Joel Spain celebrates after a tackle for loss by Dylan Smith in the first quarter of the Shrine Bowl on Saturday night in Hays.

Hays ? With two minutes left in Saturday’s Shrine Bowl, former Free State High cornerback Joel Spain snuffed out a reverse near the goal line and made a tackle in the backfield, helping the East squad complete a 21-0 victory at Fort Hays State University.

The play had a little extra meaning for Spain. It was the last tackle of his football career.

The future Cowley County Community College baseball player finished with four tackles, including the crucial stop at the 10-yard line.

“Helluva way to go out,” said Spain, helping the East to only its second win in the all-star game since 2006 and the game’s first shutout since 1990. “You’re playing on defense and to shut them out in the Shrine Bowl is a huge statement for our defense. That’s one of the best ways to go out as a football player.”

Spain was one of the few defensive players on the left side of the field when he made his stop in the fourth quarter, but he was always confident he would make the play.

“One of the things from Free State that I’ve learned and what the coaches preached here is that as a corner … you have to stay on the outside and push him in,” Spain said. “I just tried to stay on the outside and didn’t let him get outside of me.”

Spain made two tackles in the first half. His first tackle forced a fourth down when he squared up the West’s quarterback, Colton Howell, who was trying to scramble out of the pocket. Later in the half, he tackled West receiver Hunter Knoblauch after Knoblauch caught a 15-yard pass.

“Before the game, the coaches gave little emotional speeches and it was starting to hit me that it would be the last time I was strapping it up,” Spain said. “I wanted to leave it all out on the field.

“We had this little kid named Justin come talk to us,” Spain added. “He warmed us up. He ran for a touchdown. Then he drew up a play for us in the locker room. He was a joy to have around. He really let us play for him.”

Spain was a regular on the East’s special teams. He lined up on kickoffs, punts and punt returns.

For his last football game, it went just the way he was hoping it would.

“I’m definitely going to miss it,” Spain said of playing football. “It’s going to be nice to play baseball. But this is one great way to go out.”

Spain was joined on the East squad by former Wellsville running back and linebacker Brett Osbern and Wellsville coach Brad Burkdoll.

Osbern, who will play running back at Emporia State, had one carry for two yards and caught a five-yard pass.

“It was exciting. I wish I would have broke the tackle,” Osbern said with a laugh about his catch. “But I got a first down and kept the chains moving, so it was good. … It felt good just representing the school one more time. It was a fun time.”

In his final prep season, Osbern led Wellsville with 1,454 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, adding 11 catches for 170 yards.

Osbern said the game speed helped him prepare for the collegiate level, but one of his biggest takeaways was a visit to one of the Shriners Hospitals for Children earlier in the week.

“That was an experience,” Osbern said. “Just seeing how they work through having one arm. Not having legs and all that. That’s pretty cool.”