DISTRICT IV ALL-STAR GAME – The weather held off just enough in South Williamsport for the annual Lions District IV All-Star Game. On the field lightning struck from both sides before the South hung on in an ‘ole fashioned shootout 45-28. The North had the lead early in the fourth quarter, but the South roared back with 21 unanswered points to save them the win.
Athens and Danville played a classic in the District IV semi-finals this past season. Both teams’ seniors came to play in this one. Ray McDougan from Athens gave the North the early lead as he hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from South Williamsport’s Tyler House. Austin Robinson hit the extra point and the North led 7-0 with 5:00 left in the quarter.
Southern Columbia’s Joey Kleman took the ensuing kickoff back 83 yards and after a Dylan Swank kick the game was tied just 15 seconds after McDougan’s score.
Late in the first half, Brett Berg of Danville (MVP) hauled in a 70-yard touchdown from Cole Rickert with 6 seconds left in the half. After a Swank kick the South led 14-7.
Rickert scored on an eight-yard run and Swank hit the extra point with 11:00 left in the third for a 21-7 lead.
Brandon Stonge of South Williamsport scored on a five-yard run with 5:42 left in the quarter and Robinson’s extra point made it 21-14.
House scored on a 12-yard run with 3 minutes left in the 3rd and a kick by Loyalsock’s Ryan Bogaczyk tied the game at 21 late in the 3rd.
Swank hit a 29-yard field goal as time expired for a South heading into the fourth 24-21, but McDougan gave the North back the lead, breaking a 72-yard kick return for a score and after a Robinson kick it was 28-24 North with 11:40 left in the game.
Berg hauled in a 48-yard touchdown from Central Columbia’s Jordan Thivierge with 8:52 left and a Swank kick made it 31-28 South. With just 2:21 later Rickert caught a 20-yard touchdown from Thivierge to make it 38-28.
South sealed the victory with 3:37 left when Taylor Young scored on a 64-yard run.
Thivirge was 5-for-7 passing for 160 yards and three scores to lead the South and Berg had three catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
McDougan led the North with four catches for 46 yards and he had the one receiving touchdown and one touchdown return. North Penn’s Sam Bohnert had three grabs for 40 yards in the game.Brandon Stonge led the North rushing attack with 37 yards on 11 carries.
Young had five carries for 66 yards for the South and Mike Walter had 10 carries for 43 yards.
House was 7-for-10 passing for 81 yards and a score for the North. Young completed 1-of-2 passes for 59 yards for the South.
Shamokin’s Mike Yucha was the South’s Defensive MVP and the South’s offensive MVP was Cole Rickert of Line Mountain. Jake Becker of Southern Columbia was the coaches’ award winner for the South.
McDougan was named the North offensive MVP, while his teammate Mike Estes was the defensive MVP for the North. Larcom was named one of the coach award winners for the North, along with Loyalsock’s Aaron Hepburn.
Berg was the game MVP.
