In the culmination of the Schuylkill County High School football season, fans were treated to a display of talent as the Northern Schuylkill County Teams clashed with their Southern counterparts in the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association All-Star Game.
Coached by Ed Moran of Shenandoah Valley, the North Team boasted an impressive lineup featuring players from Shenandoah Valley, North Schuylkill, Mahanoy Area, Panther Valley, Marian Catholic, Lehighton, Jim Thorpe, and Tamaqua. On the opposing side, under the guidance of Pine Grove's Dave Shiffer, the South Team showcased the skills of athletes from Pine Grove, Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven, Nativity BVM, Minersville, Williams Valley, Blue Mountain, and Tri-Valley.
The first quarter saw both teams locked, resulting in a scoreless standoff at 0-0. However, the excitement ignited in the second quarter when North's Trevor Minalda from North Schuylkill connected with teammate Collin McGee on a 41-yard pass, putting the North Team on the board with a 7-0 lead. The South Team quickly retaliated, with Pottsville's Parrish McFarland running in a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 7-6.
As the game progressed, the North Team continued to showoff their skillset, with Marian Catholic's Bruce Hopeck delivering a 26-yard pass to Shenandoah Valley's Nick Ryan, extending their lead to 14-6 at halftime.
The third quarter witnessed a fierce comeback from the South Team, as they tied the game at 14-14. Parrish McFarland of Pottsville scored an 11-yard touchdown, followed by a successful 2-point conversion by Lane Lehman of Pine Grove.
In a back-and-forth battle, North responded with a 26-yard pass from Shenandoah's Ben Dempster to Nick Ryan, bringing the score to 20-14 in favor of the North Team at the end of the third quarter.
The final quarter proved to be a turning point as the South Team surged ahead. Minersville’s Luke Stevenosky scored on a 22-yard run, and Carson Boyle's point after gave the South a narrow lead of 21-20. Pottsville's Parrish McFarland further solidified the South's dominance with a 10-yard touchdown run, and a successful kick by Pine Grove's Evan Karenda extended their lead to 28-20. Blue Mountain’s Payton Fasnacht sealed the victory with a 49-yard run, bringing the final score to South 35, North 20.
The Linemen of the Game were recognized for their outstanding contributions, with Tamaqua Area's Michael Styka representing the North and Blue Mountain's Austyn Fields holding the honor for the South.
The coveted Game MVP titles were awarded to Collin McGee of North Schuylkill for the North Team and Parrish McFarland of Pottsville for the triumphant South Team, capping off a thrilling night of All-Star senior football action.
Rosters for the teams can be found at the link below
https://www.skooknews.com/2023/10/coaches-and-rosters-announced-for.html
https://www.skooknews.com/2023/10/coaches-and-rosters-announced-for.html
Story and Photos by J. Reed / Skook News
