(Game Report) Ohio 40 Pennsylvania 31

 

Yesterday after work I got in my car and made the three plus hour drive to cover the Ohio vs Pennsylvania All-Star game that took place at Geneva College. Other than a little parking issue the night was great. The crowd, who all set on one side was of a decent size for a Thursday night all-star game.

With a little over two minutes going in the opening quarter Ohio faced a fourth and one where Cletis Monroy (Salem) used the work of the big dawgs up from to easily move the chains with a gain of eight, Monroy would use his legs to pick up 23 yards, with a shade over 7:00 left in the quarter. Landen Heffner looked to be down as the ball hit the turf after a nice run and pouncing on it for Pennsylvania was Jared Moyer (MOON) to give the home team a first and ten on their own forty, with 6:48 showing on the clock. 

Travis Carr (Beaver) would connect with the best skill player in the game, Julius Best (Chartiers Valley) for a 60 yard touchdown. Best was open by a couple of steps and the defender never looked for the ball allowing the easy score. Rocco Marcantonio (Hopewell) made this a 7-0 game, with 6:38 left in the quarter. The drive total 60 yards and took all of one play.

Monroy found Nate Alexander (Western Reserve) for a gain of twenty with 4:38 left in the quarter.  The last big play of the quarter came on a 17-yard run for Ryan Smith (Boardman) as Ohio was slowly putting together a nice drive.

With 9:53 left in the half Zach Coffee (West Branch) picked up 27-yards for Ohio. Ohio would get on the board when Landen Heffner (Southern) raced in from 38-yards out. A two point run from Monroy gave Ohio the 8-7 lead, with 8:25 left in the half. The drive lasted for 5 plays, and totaled 76 yards.

The Ohio defense went to work with 6:33 left when Zach Coffee sacked M.J. Stuckey (Cornell) for a loss of ten. The Ohio would be back on the field a short time later and with Monroy hitting Jeremiah Thomas (West Branch) for a gain 13-yards. The odd thing about this pay was both players wore number one. Only in Ohio I have I watched an all-star game and the players on a small roster have the same number. I think the Buckeye State needs to update this thought process, and I am sure the players could adapt. The 9 play, 45 yard drive would climax with Ryan Smith (Boardman) easing in for the 3 yard score. Another two-point conversion run from Monroy gave Ohio the lead, 16-7.

Stuckey, who is set to play at Duquesne this coming season found Jack Miles (Laurel) for 24 yards, with 2:32 left in the half. What looked like an obvious hold on Pennsylvania went uncalled allowing Stuckey to connect with Tayshaun Lewis (Chartiers Valley) with 1:26 left in the half. Ohio overcame the non-call when Vince Butto (Boardman) sacked Stuckey for a loss of 8 yards and this happened right after a questionable pass interference was called on Ohio in the end zone. Not a bad call nor a non-call or anything else could erase the pick by Grady Close (West Branch) on a Stuckey pass with 44.6 seconds left in the half.

With 9:09 left in the third quarter Travis Clear (Beaver) was thrown for a loss of three by Nate Stull (Beaver Local) got to Stuckey for a loss of five. Rocco Marcantonio (Hopewell) easily nailed a 33-yard field to make this a 16-10 game, with 9:09 left in the third.

With 3:09 showing on the clock Ohio faced a fourth and three without much hesitation Ohio went for it and that decision was made good when, Monroy picked up 9-yards. Monroy ended the 11 play, 80 yard drive with a 32 yard touchdown pass to Ashton Hinchcliffe (Lisbon) after Ryan Smith (Boardman) converted another two-point conversion Ohio led 24-10 with 1:18 left in the quarter.

Best showed again how talented he was when he tipped the pass thrown his way by Travis Clear (Beaver) then caught it to pick up 50 yards, with 33.3 left.

The 5 play, 56 yard drive ended with 10:53 left in the contest with Clear scoring from 4 yards out. After Marcantonio it the P.A.T. we had a 24-17 game. 

Ohio used a little trickery when Monroy pitch the ball to Thomas, who then threw a strike to a wide-opened Lukas Black (West Branch) for 12-yards and another first down. The 6 play, 48 yard drive ended with Ryan Smith easing in from 5 yards out. Monroy found Matt Evans (Edison) making this a 32-17 game.

Pennsylvania needed just four plays to light up the scoreboard again. Stuckey hit Lewis for 18-yards and then Stuckey used his legs to score from 5 yards out making this a 32-23 game, with 5:20 remaining.

In the last 2:24 each team would score a touchdown. For Ohio Ian Starkey (Indian Creek) on a 4-yard run with Monroy finding Thomas for another two-point conversion making this a 40-23 game. For the home team, Jake McNabb plunged in from a yard out. Lukas Gerovac (Central Valley) ended the scoring with a two-point conversion reception.

My unofficial stats

OHIO

59 plays

377 yards

Passing, 8-19 1 TD

PENNSYLVANIA 

41 plays

336 yards

Passing, 15-21 1 TD, 1 INT

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