ALTOONA, Pa. (D9Sports) – Led by Curwensville’s Jake Terry and Quamone Newkirk, Brockway’s Anthony Isabella and Clearfield’s Nate Lash, District 9 was well represented at the 2016 Lezzer Lumber All-Star Classic Friday night at Altoona’s Mansion Stadium.
(File Photo of Brockway’s Anthony Isabella by Paul Burdick. See more of Burdick’s work here)
In a game that was won 37-15 by the South, several District 9 players made an impact in their final high school football game.
Terry split time under center with Mike Kresovich of St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy and completed 11 of 25 passes for a team-high 122 yards with an interception for the North Team. Fellow Golden Tide teammate Newkirk had two receptions for 18 yards along with an electrifying 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. His performance granted him North Offensive MVP honors. Hunter Johnson another 2016 Golden Tide graduate added 7 yards on five carries.
Isabella, who missed the second half of last season with a knee injury suffered in Week Four, got one more game in running six times for seven yards while scoring the North’s lone offensive touchdown with a 3-yard run in the first half, while Lash took home the Defensive MVP for the North.
Other noteworthy D9 players included Brookville’s Logan Thrush who finished with one catch for 9 yards, while adding seven tackles on defense. Dubois graduate Zach Sloan had two receptions for 6 yards, while Clarion’s Bo Miller blocked a field goal and punt and had five tackles on defense while deflecting several passes.
Brockway head coach Frank Zocco was the head man for the North, he was joined by Andy Martino and Bill Edwards (also Brockway coaches). Frank Varischetti of Dubois was an assistant on the squad as well.
The South started the scoring in the second quarter as the Central-Martinsburg duo of Noah Benton & Justin Helsel connected on touchdown passes of 58 and 62 yards. Isabella’s touchdown brought the North within six at 14-8, but it trailed 17-8 at halftime.
Benton and Helsel hooked up again from 16 yards out setting the stage for Newkirk’s return cutting the deficit to 24-15.
Nick Hayden’s 1-yard touchdown and Hudson Speck’s 34-yard interception return brought the final score to 37-15.
Story by Shane Lux – Special to EYT Media
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