The 2024 North-South All-Star Football Classic lived up to its reputation on Saturday in South Charleston, as the South Cardinals edged out the North Bears by a single point, 21-20, in an overtime thriller at South Charleston High Schoolβs Oakes Field.
The decisive moment came when the South defense held firm on a two-point conversion attempt by the North, clinching the victory on the final play of the game.
βOur defense held up well in the first half as our offense was struggling to get some things going,β said South head coach Vince Culicerto of Shady Spring. βOur staff did a superb job of keeping everybody relaxed and the defense kept us in the game until our offense could come through and make some big plays.β
Three players from Monongalia County competed for the North squad on Saturday: Morgantownβs Braylon Brown and Jaylon Hill, and Universityβs Luke Hudson, under the guidance of North head coach Marcus Law of Spring Mills.
Hill, who will play for Seton Hill University in the fall, lined up at linebacker and played special teams, contributing to a stout North defense that limited the South to just 78 rushing yards. Brown provided protection for Hudson, the Northβs quarterback, on the offensive line.
Hudson, who is set to attend Waynesburg University, played the majority of the snaps for the Bears, completing 13 of his 20 pass attempts for 182 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown pass to Fairmont Seniorβs Dylan Ours, which tied the game late in the fourth quarter.
βIt was a great experience and being with this group of guys all week was incredible,β said Hudson. βWe had about 13 or 14 practices together and ate three meals a day. Hopefully, I made some new lifelong friends from this. Itβs also neat to be around such a talented group of players who are all unique in their own way and love the game.β
The first half was a defensive battle, with no points scored until Ours broke the deadlock with a five-yard run just before halftime, giving the North a 7-0 lead.
The South responded in the third quarter with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Chris Ross of Mingo Central to Clay Countyβs BJ Williams, tying the game at 7-7.
Both defenses continued to play strongly in the fourth quarter until Southβs Bluefieldβs RJ Hairston caught a 63-yard pass from Matt Frye of Scott, putting the Cardinals ahead 14-7.
Hudson then connected with Ours for a 50-yard touchdown, tying the game at 14 and sending it into overtime.
In overtime, each team started from the 20-yard line. The Cardinals scored first with Wahamaβs Sawyer Vanmatre powering into the endzone from a yard out. The Bears responded immediately with a touchdown from East Fairmontβs Ian Cruikshank to Ours.
Opting to go for the win rather than a tie, the North attempted a two-point conversion. Ours took a direct snap but was stopped by the South defense, securing the victory for the Cardinals.
βOur offense came through with the big plays we hoped for and the defense kept us in it,β Culicerto said. βComing out of the huddle on the last play, I just told them it was pretty simple: if they get a stop, we win. And thatβs what they did. Iβm really proud of this group and what they accomplished this week.β
North Marionβs Landon Frey was named MVP for the North Bears, while Scottβs Matt Frye earned MVP honors for the victorious South Cardinals.
BOX SCORE
North 0 7 0 7 (6) β 20
South 0 0 7 7 (7) β 21
Scoring Summary
NORTH β Ours run 5 (Walker Kick)
SOUTH β Williams 35 pass from Ross (Aboulhosn kick)
SOUTH β Hairston 67 pass from Frye (Aboulhosn kick)
NORTH β Ours 50 pass from Hudson (Walker kick)
SOUTH β VanMatre 4 run (Aboulhosn kick)
NORTH β Ours 20 pass from Cruikshank (2pt no good)
Individual Statistics
RUSHING β NORTH: Ours 3-11-TD; Stromile 4-15; Hoffman 8-14; Powell 5-18; Eaton 2-4; Cruikshank 4-14; Moore 2-8; Bender 1-5. SOUTH: Cooper 5-22; Williams 1-(-3); Frye 5-20; Bentz 6-16; VanMatre 4-13-TD; McCarty 1-10.
RECEIVING β NORTH: Frey 6-89; Carder 1-8; Bender 2-0; Ours 4-99-TD; Edgell 1-11; Michael 1-11; Walker 1-15; Minor 1-11. SOUTH β Williams 1-10; B. Williams 4-84-TD; Hairston 1-63-TD.
PASSING β NORTH: Hudson 13-20 182 TD, INT; Stromile 0-1 0; Cruikshank 1-3 20 TD; Ours 1-1 17. SOUTH: Frye 6-12 100 TD; Ross 2-2 55 TD.
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