North Downs South 36-28 In 40th Annual CPFCA Lezzer Lumber Game

All photos submitted – Above are Wildcat participants (L-R) with Coach Wiser, Jimmy Kerr, Braylon Beckwith and Matt Alston

The North Squad defeated the South Squad 36-28 in the The Central Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association’s (CPFCA) 40th Annual Lezzer Lumber All-Star Football Game, on Friday, June 20th at Bellefonte’s Rogers Stadium with three Central Clarion Wildcats participating for the North Squad, Offensive Lineman/Defensive Lineman Jimmy Kerr, Tight End/Linebacker Braylon Beckwith and Matt Alston.

The Lezzer Lumber Classic is one of the longest running and highly esteemed regional football all-star games in the state. It began as the Mid-State Classic in 1986. Lezzer Lumber has had the sponsorship since 1997. The CPFCA selects players from member schools and programs in all classifications, 1A to 6A.

The North’s Game Director was former Clarion Area and Central Clarion head coach Larry Wiser, a position he has held for several years.

Though selected as a player, Matt is still recovering from off-season surgery. He assisted Coach Wiser in any and all ways he could, at practices throughout the week and on game day.

Braylon who had been injured, saw limited special teams action and made two tackles.

The South opened the scoring at 4:23 of the first quarter with Tyrone quarterback Ashton Walk hitting his Tyrone teammate, wide receiver Trent Adams with a 24 yard touchdown. Daunte Novak also from Tyrone added a two-point conversion kick and the South led 8-0.

The North answered with DuBois running back Danny Dixon scoring on a 9 yard run at 2:15. Dixon also kicked the conversion and the South’s lead was just 8-7 as the first quarter ended.

The South moved their lead to 14-7, on a 38 yard touchdown hookup between Bellewood-Antis quarterback Holden Schreier to Hollidaysburg wide receiver Brady Steiner eight seconds into the second quarter.

Thirty-nine seconds later, Collins scored on a 16 yard run for the North. The South’s lead was now 14-13.

Walk had a 1 yard touchdown run, to push the South’s lead to 20-13 at 7:08. The score remained unchanged through the rest of the first half.

This year’s CPFCA Hall of Fame inductees were introduced and presented their plaques at halftime. They include: Bill “Clicker” Clark – DuBois Assistant Coach; Joseph “JP” Hanna – Lock Haven and Central Valley Assistant Coach; Donny Price – Juniata Valley Assistant Coach, Punter at IUP; Bill Wetzel – Curwensville Assistant Coach, Curwensville Head and Assistant Wrestling Coach, wrestled and played football at Shippensburg.

There was no more scoring until nearly the end of the third quarter. Collins scored on an 8 yard run for the North, with Dixon kicking the PAT at 2:19 of the third to tie the game at 20-all. But Tyrone running back Seth Hoover scored with just nine seconds on the third quarter clock for the South. Novak had another two-point conversion kick. And heading to the final stanza the South led 28-20.

But the North scored sixteen unanswered points in the final stanza to complete the comback for the victory. The first score came on a 9 yard run by Bellefonte quarterback Liam Halterman at 8:39 and the second on a 41 yard by Collins on a forty-one yard run at 2:28. Collins ran for two-point conversions after both touchdowns.

Central Clarion head coach Davey Eggleton had this to say, “It was exciting to watch Jimmy compete in the Lezzer game. I thought he had a great showing and really helped his team get the win. It was also great to have Matt and Braylon participate, even though Matt couldn’t play.

“I was as shocked as everyone else to see Braylon in limited action. I knew he had a goal of participating in the Varischetti Game, but had no clue he was going to suit up for this game. It was great to see him in pads flying down the field!

“The Lezzer game is a top notch All-Star Game.”

This year’s Players of the Game were North Offensive: Quarterback Brady Collins – Clearfield, North Defensive: Defensive Back Darryl Lunon – State College; South Offensive: Quarterback Ashton Walk – Tyrone; South Defensive: Defensive Lineman Connor Boreman – Juniata.

(Congratulations to Braylon, Matt, Jimmy and the whole North Squad!!!!)

North 36, South 28

TEAM STATISTICS North – South

First Downs 20 12 Rushes-yards 45-378 24-101 Passing yards 65 235 Comp-Att-Int 6-16-1 13-22-2 Total yards 443 336 Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0 Penalties-yards 7-67 1-5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: North, Brady Collins 8-102, 3 TDs; Liam Halterman 10-99, TD; Mar Wilson 12-87; Danny Dixon 11-69, TD; Carter Vos 3-9; Wyatt Spackman 1-2. South, Seth Hoover 7-57; Mark Lattieri 10-37; Ashton Walk 4-9, TD; Josh Ryan 2-3; Holden Schreier 1-(-5).

PASSING: North, Liam Halterman 6-16-1 65 yards. South, Ashton Walk 8-16-2 161 yards, TD; Holden Schreier 5-6-0 74 yards, TD.

RECEIVING: North, Brysen Delaney 3-34; Nathan Kougher 1-17; Wyatt Spackman 1-7; Brady Collins 1-5. South, Mark Lattieri 3-85; Brady Steiner 2-73, TD; Jay Albarano 2-20; Trent Adams 1-24, TD; Dante Novak 2-16; Seth Hoover 2-14; Julian Weirich 1-5

INTERCEPTIONS: North, Nathan Kougher 1, Brady Collins 1. South, Connor Boreman.