SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT – The 22nd version of the Lions Club District IV All-Star Game featured some great competition and lots of variety – including three field-goals, two safeties, a blocked field-goal attempt, five interceptions, and four touhdowns.
The twists and turns started early on when, on the North’s third play from scrimmage, Shikellamy’s Dylan Dievert picked-off a pass to set the South up near mid-field. Myrick Lamb (Mount Carmel) got the call on the next two plays. First, scrambling ten yards to the 38 yard-line, then sprinting down the right sideline to haul in a Cam Cassels (Lewisburg) pass for the initial score.
The North team’s Dan Frankenfield (Wyalusing) was punishing as he pounded the ball forward for 33 yards on four carries. Spencer Underdown (Loyalsock) registered a 19 yard reception from Lucas Havens (Troy). But the South team’s defense held and forced the punt. However, field position had shifted, and the South was deep in their own territory. A fumbled exchange made it even worse, forcing a punt attempt from the 13 yard-line. On the attempt a high snap rolled into the endzone and netted the North two points on a safety. On the ensuing kick, the South suffered another blow, losing their top receiver, Keith Day (Southern Columbia) to a knee injury during a long kick return by Marquis Delgado (North Penn) to the South’s 43.
It took the North team four plays to find pay-dirt. A 14 yard run by Frankenfield was followed by a 12 yard toss from Jacob Jones (Montoursville) to Mike Hall (South Williamsport). Delgado sprinted in from the 11 for the go-ahead score of 9-7.
If things looked bleak for the South, they didn’t seem to notice. They answered by engineering a nine-play 75 yard drive to recapture the lead. Cassels connected with Jacob Klemon (Mount Carmel) on a 32 yard toss to break into North territory at the 45. Line Mountain’s Kyle Troutman fought for 14 more yards on the ground. Then Tyler Pratt (Shikellamy) caught a Cassels pass in the back of the endzone for an 18 yard touchdown, putting the South up 14-9.
The defenses ruled the remainder of the first half: An interception for the North by Underdown; Then an blocked field-goal attempt by Tom Schetroma (Southern Columbia); Three forced punts; And a deflected pass in the endzone into the hands of Underdown yet again to end the half.
The second half began with another big defensive play. Mike Bostwick (Sayre) picked-off a floater near mid-filed. The North then battled its way into the South’s red-zone on the next eleven plays, settling for a 30 yard field-goal by Christian Clark (Montoursville). The north was nipping at the South’s heels 14-12.
A big kick return by Lamb was compounded by a personal foul call against the North, giving them excellent field position at the North 24 yard-line. However, a huge sack for a loss of 12 by Shakyil Murphy (Williamsport) forced them to punt. The punt rolled out-of-bounds at the two, pinning the North against their own goal. A fumbled exchange was recovered behind the goal-line for another safety and gave the South two more points.
The South added three more points on a 37 yard field-goal by Dylan Friday (Danville) as the defensive struggle continued. Several series later, a 25 yard Cassels-to-Kleman pass, and hard running by Lamb and Tyrell Thomas (Southern Columbia) set up another 37 yard field-goal attempt by Friday. It sailed through with plenty to spare, putting the South up 22-12 as time ran short for the North team.
A would-be lateral to Delgado on the ensuing kick return proved to be very effective while he sprinted 80 yards down the sideline, but the toss was about three yards strong of lateral and netted and five yard penalty instead. Next in the bag of tricks was a double hand-off which was then pitched back to the quarterback for a long pass, but a defender tipped the pass which wobbled into the arms of Pratt for the interception and run-back to the four yard-line. From there, Austin Oberdorf (Warrior Run) put the icing on the cake, bowling in for the four yard touchdown and sealing an action-packed 2012 All-Star game.
Congratulations to all the players who were selected for this year’s team, and best wishes in your future endeavors. Special congratulations to the post-game award winners: Coaches’ Award winners, North Team – Delbert Lewis (Troy) & Clayton Good (Muncy); South Team – Al Sangil (Shik) & Cam Flore (Southern Columbia); Offensive Player of the Game, North Team – Dan Frankenfield; South Team – Myrick Lamb; Defensive Player of the Game, North Team – Shakyil Murphy; South Team – Cody Shustack (Mount Carmel); And Game MVP – Dylan Friday (2 FG’s-37 yds. each/ 3 PAT’s).
