By Don Ketchum

Did anybody get the license number of that runaway truck?

Yes. It was No. 2.

And quarterback Jon Brown of the Arizona team didn’t stop until he reached the end zone, running over a few defenders on the way to a 40-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to help lift his team over Southern California 21-16 in the Arizona Coaches Association All-Star Game on Saturday night (June 23) at Surprise Stadium.

Brown, of Glendale Apollo, was selected the game’s MVP. He rushed for 128 yards, 64 in each half, scored a TD in each half and completed eight passes for 73 yards, all in the first half.

The Arizona team evened the series at one game apiece after Southern California captured a 27-7 triumph a year ago.

Brown’s defensive teammates helped preserve Saturday night’s victory with a pair of key stops in the fourth quarter, the last with 4.3 seconds remaining.

“These guys are true All-Stars,’’ said Arizona coach Dan Hinds, who guided Phoenix Desert Vista to the Division I state title in 2011. “Our approach this week was not that it was an All-Star team, but a football team representing Arizona. The reason that we won was that we played as a team.’’

Brown agreed.

“Everybody was working together,’’ he said.

Brown’s big score came on a fourth-and-1 call at the Southern California 40.

He took the snap, ran to his right and flattened a few defenders to open the gate.

“I just kept pushing, kept my feet moving. I just had to get in (end zone),’’ Brown said.

Hinds said the Arizona offensive line was dominant most of the night.

As for Brown, Hinds said, “He is a special player.’’

Southern California took the opening kickoff and scored on its first play from scrimmage. It was a play-action pass, with the Arizona defensive back biting on the move and then getting back too late. Christian Guzman of Desert Hot Springs caught the 72-yard pass from quarterback Travis Santiago of Charter Oak. Guzman finished with five catches for 121 yards.

Arizona was infused with new energy when Tempe Marcos de Niza’s Rashad Baker blocked a 46-yard field-goal attempt with 6:43 left in the first quarter.

Brown set up his first touchdown, a 2-yard run on the first play of the second quarter, with a 35-yard run on another fourth-and-1 situation.

Baker came up with another big play, this time a fumble recovery, and Arizona capitalized with a 1-yard TD run by Marcus Brantley of Mesa Red Mountain.

Southern California cut the lead to 14-9 on a 38-yard field goal by Tyler Rausa of Vista Murrieta.

The visitors rebounded from Brown’s long TD run with an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive capped by a 12-yard TD pass from Santiago to Christian Mahlstede of Santa Fe with 7:45 left in the game to make it 21-16.

7x7 passing tournament

Chandler Hamilton won the 7-on-7 passing tournament for the second straight year with a 22-6 win over Scottsdale Chaparral at halftime of the All-Star game. Avondale Westview captured third place with a 16-12 triumph over Peoria Sunrise Mountain.