BY BOB LIPSKY
Correspondent
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Matt Machalik spent last fall carving up opposing defenses with dazzling runs and precise passes.
The dual-threat quarterback from Palmerton picked up right where he left off Sunday evening during the Schuylkill/Colonial All-Star Game.
Machalik, a Lehigh University recruit, passed for two touchdowns, rushed for a score and ran for a 2-point conversion as the Colonial League All-Stars topped the Schuylkill League All-Stars 36-20 on the artificial turf at North Schuylkill’s Ghosh Orthodontics Field at Spartan Stadium.
Machalik, who also completed 9-of-15 passes for 205 yards, was named the Colonial League Most Valuable Player of the game. Palmerton’s Emilio Gonzalez received Colonial League Lineman of the Game honors.
“A lot of talent on the field for both teams, flying around, just playing one more time,” Machalik said. “It’s the last time for some of them playing on the football field, so it was nice getting together as a Colonial squad. We played really well. It was fun celebrating with guys that you weren’t celebrating with during the season. It was nice being a part of something special.”
For the Schuylkill League, Pottsville’s Parrish McFarland took the MVP award. An East Stroudsburg recruit for wrestling and football, McFarland rushed for a game-high 62 yards on 14 carries. He scored on a 1-yard TD run and a 2-point conversion run. Marian’s Jesse Rodino earned the Schuylkill League Lineman of the Game award.
“It was a great experience. There are a lot of characters from different areas — a lot of wacky kids, but it’s not something you haven’t seen before in Schuylkill County,” McFarland said with a laugh. “It was a great time and a fun experience. They’re a great group of guys. It would have been nice to play with them one more time, but we’re all going to the next step.”
Players from Blue Mountain, Lehighton, Mahanoy Area, Marian, Nativity, North Schuylkill, Pine Grove, Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven, Tamaqua and Tri-Valley made up the Schuylkill League squad. Pine Grove’s Dave Shiffer served as head coach.
Bangor, Catasauqua, Notre Dame-Green Pond, Northern Lehigh, Northwestern Lehigh, Palisades, Palmerton, Pen Argyl, Salisbury, Saucon Valley, Southern Lehigh and Wilson players comprised the Colonial League team. Saucon Valley’s Anthony Brinkley and Palisades’ Bobby Smith were co-head coaches.
A slew of big plays carried the Colonial League to victory.
Those plays started in the first quarter when Machalik hit Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Josh Ludlow on a long pass down the sideline. Ludlow broke two tackles and raced 75 yards for the first touchdown of the game. The first of four extra-point kicks by Saucon Valley’s Braeden Schriffert gave the Colonial League a 7-0 lead with 6:12 left in the first period.
After punting on its first three possessions, the Schuylkill League stars got their running game going. Blue Mountain’s Payton Fasnacht ripped off a 27-yard run late in the first quarter, and North Schuylkill’s Neekoli Caraballo capped five-play drive with a 5-yard TD run early in the second quarter. The extra point was no good, so the Colonial League still held a 7-6 lead.
Not for long. The Schuylkill League went back to work on its next possession, marching 78 yards in 10 plays to take the lead. A 33-yard scamper by McFarland and a facemask penalty pushed the ball deep into Colonial League territory, and Tri-Valley’s Kash Tobin powered into the end zone from 1 yard out. McFarland’s conversion run gave the Schuylkill League a 14-7 lead with 3:35 remaining in the first half.
The Colonial League answered to tie the game 14-14 at halftime. Palmerton’s Ty Sander raced 77 yards with the kickoff return, and Machalik connected with Catasauqua’s Ian Juica for a 9-yard TD toss.
Midway through the third quarter, Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Danny Darno got into the big-play act, combining with Ludlow for an 81-yard catch and run for the go-ahead score. Ludlow finished with five receptions for 174 yards and two TDs.
The Schuylkill League cut the deficit to 21-20 with 6:36 left in the game when McFarland scored on a 1-yard run. A 44-yard pass from Marian’s Bruce Hopeck to Schuylkill Haven’s Travis Richie set up the touchdown. A mishandled snap on the PAT allowed the Colonial League to keep the lead.
From there, it was all Colonial League.
Sanders raced 56 yards on the kickoff return; Machalik threw a 47-yard strike to Notre-Dame’s A.J. Lozano to the 1; and Machalik sneaked in for the score. Machalik also ran for the 2-point conversion and a 29-20 lead with 4:58 to play.
With 2:10 to play, Darno threw his second touchdown pass of the night, a 20-yarder to Lozano, who finished with five receptions for 116 yards.
Meanwhile, the Colonial League defense got its pass rush going and registered four sacks in the fourth quarter to prevent a Schuylkill League comeback.
“Just meeting and creating bonds with other guys from other teams was nice,” Machalik said. “We were all tight from the Colonial League. We’ve been playing against each other for four years, so you develop bonds over the years, and this was very memorable for my last time playing on a high school football field.”
Schuylkill/Colonial All-Star Game
Sunday, May 5, 2024
At North Schuylkill High School’s
Ghosh Orthodontics Field at Spartan Stadium
Colonial 7 7 7 15 — 36
Schuylkill 0 14 0 6 — 20
First Quarter
CL — Ludlow 75 pass from Machalik (Schriffert kick), 6:12
Second Quarter
SL — Caraballo 5 run (kick failed), 10:26
SL — Tobin 1 run (McFarland run), 3:35
CL — Juica 9 pass from Machalik (Schriffert kick), 1:14
Third Quarter
CL — Ludlow 81 pass from Darno (Schriffert kick), 6:14
Fourth Quarter
SL — McFarland 1 run (run failed), 6:36
CL — Machalik 1 run (Machalik run), 4:58
CL — Lozano 20 pass from Darno (Schriffert kick), 2:10
Col Sch
First Downs 8 9
Rushes-Yds. 16-16 36-99
Passes 12-23-1 8-20-0
Passing Yds. 314 152
Total Yds. 330 251
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0
Penalties-Yds. 3-35 2-20
Punts-Avg. 4-26.0 5-35.2
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Colonial — Machalik 5-13, Beckowski 2-8, Lozano 1-5, Hillis 2-3, Darno 3-0, Ludlow 1-0, Team 2-(-13).
Schuylkill — McFarland 14-62, Fasnacht 6-43, Caraballo 2-8, Tobin 3-6, Englert 1-4, Lehman 3-2, Moyer 1-2, Warke 3-(-11), Hopeck 3-(-17).
PASSING: Colonial — Machalik 9-15-1, 205; Darno 3-8-0, 109.
Schuylkill — Hopeck 4-12-0, 117; Warke 4-8-0, 35.
RECEIVING: Colonial — Ludlow 5-174, Lozano 5-116, Sander 1-15, Juica 1-9. Schuylkill — Richie 3-108, McGuire 2-17, Lehman 1-11, Yoder 1-11, Moyer 1-5.
INTERCEPTIONS: Colonial — None. Schuylkill — Styka.
