The best unenrolled seniors in Ohio took the field for the 80th annual North/South Game today in Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. The South shut down the North’s offense in the first matchup to win 24-6; the North beat the South in a 10-6 defensive battle in the second game of the afternoon.
Game 1: D1-3 All-Stars
The South, led by Olentangy Liberty HC John Sansbury, won the toss and deferred to open the game. The North moved the ball with designed runs and scrambles from Copley QB Gabe Mansel, a Charleston (WV) commit. Mansel tossed the first score of the day to Clay High’s Troy Hazuda, who holds an offer from Mercyhurst. The extra point was no good, and the North took a brief lead– their only lead of the day.
South quarterback, Bloom-Caroll’s Ethan Thanthanavong (Ashland), found Kings’ Nate Lyman (Eastern Michigan) over the middle for a huge gain. A screen pass from Thanthanavong to Hamilton’s Gracen Goldsmith (Hampton) resulted in an easy touchdown. The extra point gave the South the lead at 7-6. A good kick return by Green’s Antonio Martin (Robert Morris) set the North up in good field position, but a sack by Groveport Madison’s Jalen Joyce (Ohio Dominican, Walsh, Tiffin, Charleston, etc. offers) drove them back. Hamilton Twp.’s Easton Hill (Valparaiso) grabbed a batted pass for an interception. That turnover set up a South touchdown. This time it was a pass from Cincinnati Anderson’s Justice Burnam (Georgetown), who tossed it to Tipp City’s Jackson Davis (Findlay) for another score.
The North was quickly forced to punt, and the South started to move the ball once again. Thanthanavong went long to Hamilton’s RJ Shepherd (Dayton) for a big gain. With Burnam in at QB, the South would score again on a pass as the Georgetown commit scrambled around but found a wide-open Lyman in the end zone for a score, putting the South up 21-6. The North came up empty on a last-second drive as a Hail Mary was picked off by Centerville’s Quinten Robinson (Ohio Dominican).
The second half started out well for the South, who once again were able to move the ball with ease. A Robinson kickoff return set them up in North territory, and a couple of runs from Thanthanavong set the South up in field goal range. They were unable to move the ball further and opted for a field goal from Xenia’s Sean Leonard (Kent State).
With a 24-6 lead, the South was able to play the rest of the second comfortably. The North was forced to punt, and after an unsuccessful South drive, a great punt was downed at the inch-line in front of the end zone. The North creeped out of the hole but a sack by Badin’s Royce Rachel (Ohio Dominican) forced a punt. The South looked as if they would add on to their big lead late in the fourth quarter, but the ball was stripped and Massillon’s Daylan Pringle (Ashland) recovered the fumble. The North converted a 4th-and-8, but Quinten Robinson intercepted a pass for the second time on the day to end the drive. The South ran out the clock and took home a 24-6 victory.
Game 1 Highlights
Game 2: D4-7 All-Stars
The North, led by West Branch HC Tim Cooper, won the toss and took the ball to start the D4-7 All-Star Classic. A converted 4th-and-6 prolonged the opening drive for the North, but an interception by West Muskingham’s Jake Anton (Ashland) halted the North’s early progress. The North responded by shutting down the South and forcing a turnover on downs. They took the ball down the field quickly but their hopes of a touchdown were stunted when Preble Shawnee’s Brody Lynch sacked the North QB. They settled for a field goal from Orrville’s Kaleb Wayt (Johns Hopkins) to take a 3-0 lead. The South punted and the North was forced to do so as well after a sack by Harvest Prep’s Marquez Colvin ended their drive.
The South turned the ball over on downs, and the North did the same despite reaching the South 21-yard line. The South converted a 4th-down play from deep in their own territory, but on a second attempt to convert on a 4th, they were stuffed. The North took over on the South 34-yard line with just seconds remaining in the half. Northwest QB Chase Badger (Mount Union) tossed a great pass into the end zone to West Branch’s Joey Jackson (Lake Erie) for a touchdown with 9 seconds remaining. The North led 10-0 at the half. The second half started out with more great defense by both sides. The South punted but got the ball right back after an interception by Carlisle’s Blake Lawson (Taylor University). The South once again had nothing on offense and punted, but their defense bailed them out again. Jake Anton made a diving interception (his second of the game), and after a roughing call on a punt the South was in business. Philo’s Talon Preston took the ball over the goal line to break up the shutout. The extra point was blocked to keep the score at 10-6.
Another defensive stop was recorded as the South tipped a North 4th-down pass to force a turnover. The defense was strong again for the North, however, and a punt was forced. The North converted a 4th-and-5 and it looked as if they would put the game away, but a fumble was forced and recovered by the South with 2:00 remaining in the game. A terrific catch from Dayton Northridge’s JaDynn Martin gave the South hope, but a downfield throw was picked off by Clearview’s Isaiah Garcia to end the threat. One more first down and a couple of kneel-downs ran the clock out, and the North was victorious with a score of 10-6.
