Judge renders decision

Co-MVP with Kendall

WALTHAM — Massachusetts football players from the North and South came together yesterday at Bentley University to compete in the 39th Shriners All-Star Football Game.

“The game started as a fund-raiser for the Shriners Hospital for Children,” game chairman Peter Simmons said. “We operate 22 hospitals throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. And the money that we raise is going to help some kids get to hospitals here in Boston and Springfield.”

Quarterback Declan Judge connected with Spencer Kendall for a 2-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter that put the North ahead for good in a 21-14 win.

The game is the flagship fund-raiser for the Aleppo Shriners. To date, the event has raised $1.3 million for the charity, thanks to the efforts of the 100 students invited each year to participate in the contest.

“It’s a blessing, it’s been fun all throughout,” Judge said of the event. “It’s a great cause for a great organization, and it’s really awesome to have one last hurrah before we go to college.”

Judge (Masconomet) had a strong performance, going 14-for-19 passing for 212 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 1-yard rushing TD to open the scoring.

The North QB’s favorite target was Kendall (Lexington), who caught five balls for 91 yards and a touchdown. Kendall added an interception on defense.

Judge and Kendall were selected co-MVPs following the two stellar performances.

“They both worked extremely hard in practice,” said North coach Mike Willey (BB&N). “We wanted good football players obviously, but we wanted great people. ... We wanted people to be committed to this thing, it’s a great cause that we’re playing for and we wanted players that understood that.”

Each year, Shriners Hospitals for Children helps thousands of kids with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate, in a safe and friendly environment with no financial obligations to patients or families.

“Typically when we finish a game we have enough money to transfer one or two patients to our hospitals,” Simmons noted. “Aleppo Shriners donates an excess of $400,000 every year to transport kids to our hospitals, and an average hospital trip for severely burnt patients costs about $35,000.

“We hope to continue this for many more years to come.”