BROCKWAY, Pa. – It was a fireworks show from the South in the eighth annual Frank Varischetti All-Star game.
Eric Booher (Karns City) threw two touchdown passes to high school teammate Micah Rupp, caught another, and the South scored on back-to-back plays in the second quarter to take control in what was ultimately a 44-34 win over the North squad.
“That’s kind of always been our thing, deep routes,” Booher said of the on-field connection with Rupp, with the duo scoring on passes of 57 and 26 yards. “I think the line did a really great job tonight. The chemistry with each other, we’ve always had that.”
See Booher and Rupp’s full interview:
The second quarter is where the game swung in favor of the South.
Leading 7-0 after a 7-yard Zeke Bennett (Punxsutawney) touchdown run in the first quarter, Booher and Rupp connected on their first touchdown, a 57-yard bomb just 68 seconds into the second.
On the North’s next offensive play, Tyler Albright (Keystone) got his hands on the ball and took it 35 yards for a pick six, and just like that it was 21-0.
“It was a blast coming out here and playing with guys you usually play against,” Albright said. “I saw it (the interception) coming the whole way. The receiver took a step back and the quarterback threw it over that way and I was able to jump it.”
See Albright’s full interview:
Booher was named the South Offensive MVP and Albright the Defensive MVP.
The North got on the board on the first of two Drew Evens (Port Allegany) touchdown passes, a 5-yard connection to Carter Chadsey (St. Marys) to make it 21-6.
The South took its final drive of the half and got well within Peyton Hetrick’s (Punxstuawney) field goal range, and he made it 24-6 at halftime.
The South went into its bag of tricks in the third quarter, as Ashton Rex threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to an open Booher in the end zone on their initial drive of the third quarter, and it was 31-6.
Ricky Zampogna (North Offensive MVP, Kane) scored the first of his two touchdowns on an 8-yard pass from Drew Evens on the ensuing North drive.
Ricky Zampogna of the North squad finds some running room. Photo by Jared Bakaysa of JB Graphics.
The momentum was short-lived, however, as the Booher to Rupp connection struck early again in the fourth quarter to make it 37-14.
Zampogna scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run to get the North within 37-22, but Cole Bish (Redbank Valley) followed with a late touchdown run to put the game way.
“I just wanted to do whatever my coaches asked me to do,” Zampogna said.
See Zampogna’s full interview:
The game ended with a flurry, as Charlie Coudriet (St. Marys) threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Landon Darr (Kane) to make it 44-28 with seven seconds to go.
The South, attempting to run out the clock on the kickoff, attempted a couple of laterals, with the last one getting snatched out of the air by Logan Mosier (St. Marys) and returned 15 yards for a score.
Booher finished 17-of-26 through the air for 289 yards, while Rupp had 83 yards receiving and Bennett 69 yards rushing to lead the South.
Evens was 10-of-16 for 144 yards and two touchdowns for the North, while Mosier had 81 yards receiving and Darr 63 yards receiving. Blaine Moses (Port Allegany) had 40 yards rushing and Noah Archer (Port Allegany) was the North Defensive MVP.
“I’ll take away watching them enjoy themselves out on the field,” said Moniteau’s Bob Rottman, who coached the South. “They’re walking away with a win, and that’s also what I’ll take away from it.”
