MVL’s Best Show Up and Show Out at North-South All-Star Game
MASSILLON, OH
If not for one day, football is back, and with some of the elite talents all throughout the state, all coming together for the OHSFCA all-star games in the north versus south format.
It was time for Divisions IV-VII to take center stage in Massillon, with plenty of local representation to be found at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
The South team was all ready to go, as was New Lexington’s Kevin Board as an Assistant coach on the team. He got to see a couple of his own guys out there one more time, including Isaiah Stephens who started at quarterback. Meanwhile, his New Lex teammate Bentley Hanson donned the Panthers helmet one more time on defense. The same can be said for West Muskingum’s Jake Anton, who had two interceptions in the game, earning him defensive player of the game honors for the south team. Fellow Tornado Wes Houston was so fired up, that even a sideline down marker couldn’t stop him.
Representing Philo was “Mr. Do It All” Talon Preston, who made a big impact in this one, and anchoring the south offensive line was Meadowbrook’s Mitchell George over at left tackle.
As for the game itself, the North held a 10 to nothing lead in the second half, until Stephens began to show off his arm, leading a drive right down the field. That would set up the lone touchdown in the game from his team, courtesy of Preston from two yards out. While it wasn’t quite enough in the team’s 10 to 6 loss, local athletes made sure to show out one more time and help put the MVL on the map.
“We had a great showing between the George kid, and Stephens and Hanson from New Lex, and Talon Preston coming out here with us” said Anton. “It was a great time, especially being with those guys and seeing what everyone could do, and how we could all contribute in our own ways.”
George added, “It was an honor, just being able to represent my school and my family and just all the work we’ve put together, and hopefully more great things in the future.”
“It’s just a tremendous honor. Not only are you coaching with the best kids in the state, the best coaches in the state, but for us, as a league, there’s a lot of league guys” said Board. “So that was a great opportunity to see the best that the league had to offer. For them to be able to showcase their talents and abilities against the rest of the state.”
Prior to the game, the south team defeated the North team in the Division I-III game, by a final score of 24 to 6, in a game that featured Tri-Valley’s Gavin Spiker, Newark’s Drayson Peterson, Licking Valley’s Kam Walker, and Granville coach Heath Hinton.
