HUNTSVILLE – Quarterback Justin Evans of Midfield rushed for 64 yards on 12 carries and passed for 58 yards and a touchdown on a 4-of-7 performance to lead the North All-Stars to a 14-7 win over the South in the 2010 Alabama All-Star Week Football All-Star Classic.
The North win was its 22nd in the 52-game series. The South now leads 28-22-2 in the classic that began in 1948. In the 14 years since All-Star Sports Week commenced in 1997, the South holds an 8-6 advantage.
Evans connected with Midfield High School teammate Jamarcus Nelson for the North’s first touchdown with 1:35 left in the first half for a 7-0 lead. It was quite an unusual 37-yard connection.
Nelson and South defensive back Laprintess Morris of Jackson, who intercepted a pass earlier in the half in the back of the end zone to spoil the first North threat of the game, both appeared to latch onto the ball just inside the goal line. Nelson quickly snatched it away and then held on for a step before losing his grip on the ball. Gaining possession over the goal line meant an instant TD, however, and the North led 7-0 following Caleb Henry’s kick..
The South did have one field goal try, a 31-yarder by William Andre of Houston Academy, but the kick missed wide left by inches earlier in the second quarter.
The South took the opening kick of the second half and drove 55 yards on 12 plays – eating up almost five minutes on the clock – and tied the game at 7-7 when Taylor Hughes of Chilton County connected with receiver Quindravius Richardson of Loachapoka in the back of the end zone for a touchdown with 7:01 left in the third period. Andre was true on his extra-point kick.
The North, sparked by the running of Evans, drove to the go-ahead touchdown, a 10-play, 65-yard march that culminated with Antavio Smith’s 2-yard run. The Gadsden City running back took a handoff from Evans and out-raced two defenders to the left pylon with 8:41 remaining and the North led 4-7 following
Jamarious Crusoe, the third Midfield player in the game, and Denzel Malone-Huff of Gadsden City came up with two key interceptions in the final minutes to seal the win.
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Hughes was named the South MVP after completing 16-of-21 passes for 96 yards and the South TD. Ryan Smith of Greenville was also 4-of-11 for the South for 53 yards – netting the team a combined 149 passing yards on the night.
William Golston of Murphy hauled in six catches for 25 yards to lead the South receiving corps, and Charleston Gandy of Baldwin County had 11 rushes for 31 yards.
Smith had 31 yards on seven carries to go with Evans’ 64 yards as the North finished with 107 yards rushing. Chase Childers of Piedmont, the other North quarterback, had 26 yards rushing on seven carries and completed 3-of-8 passes for 28 yards. Nelson had three catches for 55 yards and Payton Sittason of Hartselle had three for 28 yards.
Ben Endress of Clay County led the North defense with 12 tackles. Nick Thomason of Muscle Shoals added seven with two sacks and three tackles for losses.
The South defensive effort was led by Brantley linebacker Tory Upshaw and Greenville defensive end Marcus Peters with eight tackles each. Peters also had two sacks for 12 yards in losses.
Head coach for the North was Bob Godsey of Hartselle while Randy Ragsdale of Trinity was the South head coach.
The North finished All-Star Week by winning softball, volleyball, boys and girls basketball and boys soccer competition in addition to the football win. The South won the girls soccer contest, and the baseball doubleheader was canceled due to rain.