Andy Erickson’s exploits on the football field have been well documented in Central Texas.

But last week, the former Cavalier and current Rice Owl had a chance to show the entire state what he’s capable of when he suits up.

Erickson scored three touchdowns and made an interception late in last Tuesday’s 76th Texas High School Coaches’ Association all-star game, leading the South team to a 36-23 victory in the Alamodome.

“I was just trying to play the best I could,” Erickson said. “Everything we tried to do was to make that team great. We had three days to prepare, we got pretty close and we worked together well. I had great blocking on all of those plays. It started slow, but I ended up having a great game and even better – we won.”

Erickson’s first touchdown came on a 73-yard punt return in the closing moments of the first half that gave the South a 9-7 lead at the break.

He followed that score with a 96-yard kick return to open the second half, kick-starting his team’s momentum. It was a flashback to the first breakout play of his Lake Travis career – a kick return against Kerrville Tivy as a sophomore in 2007 that helped the Cavaliers to a 45-29 win over the Antlers en route to their first state title. Erickson has never been on the losing team any time he has played in the Alamodome.

“It was even better to win in the Alamodome for the seventh time,” he said. “Every time I get a kick return there I think about that moment against Tivy.”

Even with his first Division I college football season just weeks away, Erickson said there was really never any doubt between him or his coaches at Rice about whether he was going to play.

“I talked to Coach [David] Bailiff and Coach [Jason] Washington about playing in the game, and they were all for it because they think it’s an honor to play in that game,” Erickson said. “It’s been going on for 76 years, so it’s absolutely an honor. Regardless of how you play.”

Erickson later scored on a 19-yard pass and then intercepted a fourth down pass after the North chose to attempt a conversion rather than punt to him again with time running out.

Erickson was the first player to score three times in the all-star game since Madisonville’s Chris Whaley did it last year. Whaley is now at the University of Texas.

Playing against some of the best players from his class from all over the state was a welcome relief for Erickson as he heads into the collegiate season.

“I didn’t know how I was going to do in the game. Knowing that I can play up to their level was definitely a confident booster, though,” he said. “It’s almost comforting to know that I can hang with them. And I just really enjoyed all the guys, everyone was really cool. It was an amazing experience.”

The game was also a release of sorts for Erickson, who put on the pads for the first time since the tragic death of his son, Brady, in early May. Erickson has always pointed to the sky to thank God after touchdowns, but that ritual has taken on a new meaning in the last few months.

“I’m always going to be playing for Brady,” Erickson said. “He had such a big impact on my life. I was pointing to God and Brady at the same time, I know they’re both in heaven and they’re both watching.”

It added to an emotional whirlwind tour, but a tour that was an overwhelmingly positive experience, according to Erickson, who as also named the game’s MVP.
“It’s such a high, playing in football games. The adrenaline and excitement are great,” he said. “You just get so much out in a football game. Not even just the game. The idea of the game – warming up, putting the helmet on for the first time and then running out. So many friends, family and coaches were there, too. It was just awesome.”

Joined by three of his new Rice teammates in the game, and cheered on by his Lake Travis fans in the place where Lake Travis seemingly never loses, Erickson’s past and future were bridged.

If the future is anything like the past, there are a lot of collegiate defenses will soon be looking out for the smallest guy on the field.

And Erickson will probably keep duplicating that first kickoff return three years ago.

There in a moment, gone in a flash.