GREENSBORO - The East football All-Stars put together back-to-back wins for the first time since 1995-96 on Wednesday night, taking the 60th edition of the N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game 27-3.

East Carolina recruit and former Hope Mills Gray's Creek speedster Marquan Brown helped the East pull away in the final minutes with a recovery of a botched West punt return, and then an electrifying 57-yard punt return for a touchdown.

The first two East touchdowns of the night came after fumbles on kick-return attempts by Statesville defensive back William Marion. Marion's second drop, recovered by Brown, put the offensively-starved battle away for the East, which still trails the all-time series 35-24-1.

Brown covered the loose ball at the West 10-yard line. Two plays later, Southern Vance Jamere Pugh scurried in from 3 yards out for a 13-3 lead after Matt Shaefer of Cardinal Gibbons knocked through the extra point.

After a West three-and-out, Brown broke five tackles on his punt return, all the while tiptoeing down the East sideline.

Brown was named the game's offensive MVP.

"It kind of energized me," Brown said of the fumble recovery of the botched punt in the fourth quarter. "On the punt return, I was just trying to get free. I don't remember much about it, except I found a way to get to the end zone."

The final East touchdown came on a 30-yard run by West Johnston quarterback Michael Adams -- which gave the winners 21 points in the final eight minutes of play.

Adams has signed to play at UNC-Pembroke in the fall, but will play defensive back for the Braves.

"We went with a lot of speed guys in the backfield,'' said East assistant coach and Smithfield-Selma head coach Anthony Barbour. "They're all guys who can make people miss and once we started holding onto the ball and got a little better footing, they were able to make some things happen."

The game was delayed 90 minutes after a thunderstorm with intense lightning pounded the Jamieson Stadium area for more than an hour.

The East squad jumped to a quick lead after Southeast Raleigh's Mike Daniels recovered a fumble by the Marion on the opening kickoff.

Travis Daniels of Washington ran in from 9 yards out three plays later for a 6-0 lead. The extra-point attempt was botched when the snap sailed high.

The West drove inside of the East 20-yard line twice in the final three minutes of the first half.

On the first occasion, the West offense was pushed back to the 27 when Jones County defensive end Kamar Frost sacked West quarterback Garrett Benge for a 9-yard loss on third down. Justin Matis' 44-yard field-goal attempt ended up short and left.

Frost, who had 2 1/2 sacks in the game, was named the game's defensive MVP.

The drive had started on the East 34 when a pair of snap miscues (one dropped and one high) pushed the East offense back inside of its own 1.

East coach Clay Jordan of West Craven had West Johnston's Adams quick-kick the ball away on third down.

West got back into scoring range in the final seconds of the half, however, giving Matis a shot at a 52-yard field goal on the final play of the half. But the kick ended up just short and right.