by David Mika
MANHEIM – This game was ruled by the offense. In it we saw 89 points scored, 13 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards of total offense. The South team won a thrilling 46 to 43 game over the North stars in the Seventh Annual Tri-County All-Star football game at Rettew Stadium. In the final minutes of the game both teams scored what seemed like the game winning touchdown. But with 39.7 seconds to go in the game, Jerome LaRue of JP McCaskey dove into the end zone for a four-yard, game winning score.
The first half both teams combined for 42 points. Francis Camara of Reading had two touchdown runs in the first quarter to give the North stars a 14-6 lead.
The South quarterback Mike Seibert of Columbia threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter to Kyle Keller of Cocalico and Mark Daniels of Wilson. Seibert had 150 yards passing to go with his two touchdowns last night.
Both teams went into halftime with the score tied at 21.
The offensive fireworks show continued into the second half with seven touchdowns, including three touchdown drives inside of three minutes in the game.
The third quarter was all North stars. The North stars scored two touchdowns and added a field goal. Malcom Williams of Reading gave the North stars the lead on a 34-yard score. The North stars led 27-21.
After the South stars tied up the game at 27 the North all stars scored the next ten points in the quarter. Mark Mellinger of Manheim Township hit Jordan Hallman for a 47-yard touchdown pass.
All-State kicker David Soldner of Manheim Township kicked a 32-yard field goal giving the North stars a 37-27 lead. But the offense wasn’t the only stars of the night. The South stars went for it on fourth down on the North stars one-yard line. But the defense from the North would shine and stop the South stars at the one-yard line and took over on downs. At the end of the third quarter the North stars led 37-27.
In the fourth quarter the South stars answered the North scoring three of the final four touchdowns. After a score by the South stars that cut the lead to 37-24 the real fireworks would start late in the game. The South stars took the lead when Jake Stopper of Wilson went in for a nine-yard touchdown run. The South stars led 40-37 with 2:27 to go in the game. The North stars answered right back when Mellinger hit Hallman for a 47-yard touchdown pass giving the North stars the lead 43-40 with 1:48 left in the game. Mellinger led the North stars by passing for 324 yards and three touchdowns.
With under a minute left in the game the South stars drove down to the four-yard line and with 39.7 seconds to go in the game LaRue went in for the game winning score. The North had one more drive, but Jason Taylor of Lampeter-Strasburg intercepted the ball ending the North stars chances. Taylor said “It was a dominant offense, but it just came down to the fourth quarter and we shut them down.”
With the final score the South stars defeated the North 46-43. It was the South’s third straight win in the series.
