Dwight Clark Helps Kick-off the Donruss Pop Warner Classic
February 05, 2008

San Francisco 49ers great and member of the 49ers five Super Bowl Championship teams, Dwight Clark took the field Super Bowl weekend to participate as a coach in "the game before the game" - The Donruss Pop Warner Classic.

Clark was on the receiving end of a Joe Montana touchdown in the 1981 NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys in what has become one of the NFL's Greatest Moments - simply known as "The Catch." The touchdown led to a 28-27 victory and catapulted the San Francisco 49ers to their first Super Bowl Championship over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI.

And Clark is no stranger to the Pop Warner sidelines, as he currently coaches his son's team in Charlotte, NC.

Clark was joined on the sidelines by Cincinnati Bengals running back, Quincy Wilson, as they coached against Miami Dolphins quarterback Cleo Lemon and Cleveland Browns Pro Bowler, Josh Cribbs. The players coached the North Savages (Peoria, AZ) and the Gilbert Generals (Gilbert, AZ) Jr. Pee Wee teams in the Donruss Pop Warner Classic.

In the end, both teams won as the players signed for all the kids that played in the exhibition.

"This was a great day for the kids and a great way to help the local Arizona Pop Warner teams," said Marketing Director Scott Prusha. "The (NFL) players were outstanding they had a great time getting into the action. We've hit on something special here and we're going to continue to support this event year-after-year, helping Pop Warner turn this into a marquee event during the Super Bowl."

The event ended with the Pop Warner players attempting to re-enact one of the NFL's Greatest Moments - "The Catch" along with Dwight Clark and Cleo Lemon. The event took place at Central High School, which is approximately 1.5 miles from the Phoenix Convention Center and NFL Super Bowl Media Center.

"My favorite moment was when Quincy (Wilson) ran down the field trying to call time-out with 5 seconds to go, was great watching these players get into the game," adds Prusha.

The Inaugural Donruss Pop Warner Classic was held to Benefit the local Arizona Pop Warner teams and also Celebrate Super Bowl XLII between the New England Patriots and N.Y. Giants.

Pictured NFL Players Cleo Lemon (left) and Josh Cribbs (Right)

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