By Dean Eversole
MaxPreps.com
All-Star Football: North Puts Away South 34-13
It might be June, but high school football is still at the center of attention in Ohio.
The Grange Insurance North-South All-Star Game was held June 17, as usual, but this year there was a change. The Big 33 Classic, a game that pits the best of Ohio against the best of Pennsylvania was played on the same weekend.
In years past, the contests were scheduled for different weekends, allowing the stars of Ohio to play in both. This all changed when the NCAA changed the reporting date for incoming freshmen, allowing them to join their college teams earlier. In the end both games ended up on June 16.
The North/South game once again took place at Columbus' Crew Stadium. The format of the game takes the best from Northern Ohio and pits them against the stars from Southern Ohio.
This contest, like most all-star games, is a collection of soon-to-be Division I college players, but there is an interesting twist that has developed the last few years. The players that have excelled on this stage most recently are not the possession of the state's flagship university. This year was no different.
Mentor Lakes Ricky Stanzi stole the show from his quarterback position for the North team, tossing three touchdown passes. Stanzi will not be hitting receivers for the Scarlet & Gray of Ohio State. He has signed with Big Ten rival Iowa.
On the receiving end of two of those passes was Patrick Henry's Marc Kraus. Kraus will attend Ohio University and was named the North Offensive Player of the Game.
The first of Stanzi's touchdown tosses to Kraus helped seal the game and was set up by Glenville's Daven Jones (Wisconsin), who tore off a 53-yard run. Stanzi then found Kraus for a 23-yard touchdown toss. From there, the North put away the game and went on for the easy, 34-13 win.
Even though the stars of the game are not heading to Ohio State, not surprisingly, the Buckeyes were still well represented. Glenville's 6-5 defensive end Robert Rose created havoc, recording 4 « tackles.
The North-South All-Star Game, which dates back to 1946, has produced four Heisman Trophy winners; Roger Staubach, Archie Griffin, Desmond Howard and Vic Janowicz.
All-Star Football: Pennsylvania Wins Big 33 Shootout
In Pennsylvania, the annual Big 33 Classic was held at Hersey, Pa., with some thought it might be the last match up between Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Despite the uncertainty, Pennsylvania ended a three-year losing streak in impressive fashion with a 61-42 win. Even though the score ended up lopsided, the Penn squad was actually down 28-14 in the third quarter, scoring 47 points in less than a quarter and a half.
Led by two Michigan State recruits in wide receiver Dave Williams, and quarterback Connor Dixon, the Keystone State beat back the Buckeye challenge. Williams was named Pennsylvania's Most Valuable Player, catching three touchdown passes in the contest. Dixon tossed for one touchdown and raced 58 yards for another.
On the Buckeye side of things, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney star Darrell Johnson led the attack. The Iowa-bound recruit played quarterback and racked up 117 yards passing and 138 yards on the ground. Johnson is expected to play wide receiver for the Hawkeyes.
Copley's Delone Carter added 115 yards rushing and two scores for the Ohio team. Carter will attend Syracuse in the fall.
Basketball: Another Roethlisberger in the News
Lost in the midst of summer football all-star games and the motorcycle accident of a certain Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback was the news of Findlay High hoop star Carlee Roethlisberger's commitment to Oklahoma.
Roethlisberger, the younger sister of Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, is coming off a junior season at Findlay where she averaged over 19 points and seven rebounds per contest.
The versatile, 6-1 senior-to-be continues head coach Sherri Coale's recruiting roll in Norman. Coale signed a pair of MaxPreps All-Americans a year ago, Amanda Thompson of Chicago, Ill., and Abi Olajuwon of Los Angeles.