FB NORTH-SOUTH: South defense the key in 16-7 victory

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By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

INDIANAPOLIS – Thank goodness the 2012 Grange Insurance/IFCA North-South All-Star Game was played on Friday the 13th.

Had the annual battle for state supremacy been held one week earlier, Lake Central coach Brett St. Germain’s North contingent and Indianapolis Scecina coach Ott Hurrle’s South squad would have broiled under a 105-degree sun. As it was July 13 at North Central (Indianapolis), however, the two teams battled under relatively frigid 85-degree conditions.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY AS WELL AS THE VIDEO PLAYER TO THE RIGHT OF THE PAGE FOR VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS AND POSTGAME INTERVIEWS!!

The result? A 16-7 victory for the South that pushed its all-time series lead to 25-21 on the strength of a stifling defense that collected four sacks and allowed just one big play – a 56-yard touchdown pass from South Bend Clay’s Justin Laureys to Lafayette Central Catholic’s Danny Anthrop that sealed Most Valuable Player honors for the standout running back.

It didn’t take the blue-clad home team long to capture early momentum. The South hopped on top 7-0 on the first play from scrimmage when Avon’s Lance Magee intercepted North quarterback Zach Terrell of Homestead and returned the pick 20 yards for the score.

The pick-six netted Magee the Tyler Roth MVP award, which was named for the late Winamac star killed in an automobile accident in 2001.

The South upped its lead to 10-0 with just over two minutes left in the opening quarter on a 52-yard field goal by Ryan Frain of Indianapolis Scecina following a nine-play, 39-yard drive. The South upped its early advantage to 16-0 about halfway through the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Evansville Mater Dei’s Cody Hess, with a bad snap preventing the extra point.

The North finally rallied with the long bomb from Laureys to Anthrop to make it 16-7 with 7:19 left in the game.

But heavy pressure from Center Grove’s O’rion Elder and Southport’s Kenneth Hawkins prevented Laureys from finding an open receiver on 4th and 1 from the South 20, effectively sealing the game with 2:26 to go. Elder finished with two of the South’s four sacks on the night, with neighboring Greenwood standout Lee Campbell getting the other two.

Final scores from the 46-year-old series:

2012: South 16, North 7
2011: South 13, North 7
2010: North 24, South 21 (2OT)
2009: North 20, South 13
2008: South 34, North 14
2007: North 20, South 7
2006: South 28, North 10
2005: North 17, South 14
2004: North 23, South 21
2003: South 27, North 23
2002: South 21, North 13
2001: North 21, South 15
2000: South 31, North 12
1999: South 14, North 13
1998: South 35, North 17
1997: South 38, North 7
1996: North 14, South 0
1995: South 23, North 7
1994: South 17, North 2
1993: North 17, South 13
1992: South 12, North 6
1991: North 17, South 12
1990: South 12, North 7
1989: North 41, South 6
1988: North 17, South 10
1987: South 24, North 7
1986: North 20, South 12
1985: North 15, South 13
1984: South 21, North 14
1983: North 31, South 22
1982: South 28, North 11
1981: South 14, North 11
1980: North 17 South 7
1979: North 12, South 3
1978: South 22, North 13
1977: North 16, South 7
1976: South 33, North 28
1975: South 18, North 13
1974: South 4, North 3 (OT)
1973: North 16, South 14
1972: South 32, North 0
1971: North 17, South 14
1970: North 26, South 9
1969: North 21, South 19
1968: South 23, North 14
1967: South 15, North 14