By By Jeff Byrd/The Meridian Star
Dec. 8, 2001
CLITNON A big third quarter propelled the North All-Stars to a 28-14 victory over the South here Friday night at the Mississippi Private School Association prep all-star game at Robinson-Hale Stadium.
North Delta School Chad McMahan, who lost last week, got beat by Silliman Institute in the AAA final, got a measure of revenge by leading the North to the comeback victory. McMahan rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another and was named the North's Most Valuable Offensive Player.
Winston Academy's Jason Fulcher was named the North's Defensive MVP. He made six tackles and had an interception.
The North trailed 7-6 at the half but quickly got the break of the game early in the third quarter. South MVP Micah Schilling of Silliman, lost a quarterback snap and the ball was recovered by the North's B.J. Butler at the South 20.
It took just four plays for the North to take the lead. McMahan got it on a three-yard run to cap the 20-yard drive. Heidelberg Academy's Heath Ainsworth ran in the two-point conversion to make it 14-7 with 13:08 left in the third quarter.
the North nearly had another recovered fumble but an inadvertent whistle blew the play dead.
The North, however, would get the ball back at their own 16. McMahan then set in motion an 84-yard drive when he scrambled for 50 yards on a bootleg run.
Six plays later, he took a quarterback draw for the 13-yard touchdown. Parker Mullins added the extra point to make it 21-7 with 3:49 left in the third.
The North extended the margin to 28-7 when Starkville Academy's Joby Garner returned a South punt 79 yards for a touchdown. Garner was able to clear at the side and picked up his picket line. It was the biggest single play of the game.
Mullins' kick wrapped up a 22-point explosion with 52 seconds still left in the quarter.
The South answered on its ensuing possession going 59 yards in 13 plays. Steven McVea scored on a three-yard run. A 14-yard pass from Schilling to Chad Ridley was the key play. The kick by Nikolas Fowler cut the North lead to 28-14 with 10:06 left.
The South had another potential threat following a 42-yard punt return by Ridley which carried to the North 25. But Winston Academy's Scott Peterson ended the South's last chance at a win by intercepting Schilling at the 18.
Following a scoreless first quarter, McMahan put the North up 6-0 when he hit Mullins on a 39-yard TD pass. Mullins made a well-timed leap to pull off the catch.
The South put together a late drive of 80 yards to tie the game. Schilling had a 20-yard run and a 15-yard pass to move the drive along and set up his one-yard run. Fowler's kick put the North up 7-6 with 30 seconds left in the half.
Jeff Byrd is a sports writer for the Meridian Star. He can be reached at 693-1551 or by e-mail at jbyrd@themeridianstar.com.