Practice underway for Varischetti All-star Game
Jake Costanzo, Cooper Nystrom, and Harley Morris will represent the Wolves at Friday's Frank Varischetti All-star Game at 7 p.m. in Brockway at Varischetti Field, where practices began on Sunday.
Representing the Ridgway Elkers are Domenic Allegretto, Camron Marciniak, Dan Park, and Hunter Wall; Jake Parrish and Dom Zambaini will represent Elk County Catholic; alex Ognen, Brandon Higley, and Noah Lent Smethport; and Christian Coudriet, Tony Lewis, Colton Swanson, Connor Bullers St. Marys. Dutch head coach Chris Dworek will guide the squad.
It's the seventh edition of the contest which pits 2022 graduates from District 9's north schools against players from the south. The contest was first played in 2016 and featured all-stars from the AML league against KSAC league players.
Last year the switch was made to the North and South. St. Marys moved to the North and Brockway to the South.
The South bounced back from a 12-0 halftime deficit to win 14-12
Game recaps 2016 – AML 27, KSAC 20
Kane's Shane Rolick scored the winning touchdown from a yard out with 3:00 remaining. He finished with 57 yards and two TD'S rushing and caught five passes for 55 yards and a score. His three interceptions also earned him the AML'S Defensive MVP.
The AML was quarterbacked by Jake Terry who earned the team's Offensive MVP. He threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns. Elk County Catholic's Noah Werner had five catches for 29 yards. Ridgway's Dane Cappiello had two interceptions.
Clarion-limestone's Anthony Lauder was the KSAC Offensive MVP and Karns City's Neal Barnhart, who returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown was the Defensive MVP.
AML Local Players: Ridgway - Dane Cappiello and Logan Brunner; ECC players - Noah Werner, Kyle Schatz, Andy Geci, and Kyle Huff; Kane players Shane Rolick, Tyler Rolick, Tyler Weidenhoff, and Jake Shrubb.
KSAC Local Players: St. Marys players Brady Bauer, Nick Taylor, Nathan Straub, and DJ Salinas.
2017 - AML 38, KSAC 10
Brockway's Jake Gorham's 28-yard pick six 35 seconds into the second half set the tone for the remainder of the contest. Rover teammate Jarrett Esposito, who earlier kicked a 32-yard field goal, made it 24-10.
The AML, coached by Kane's Todd Silfies, later scored on a one-yard pass from Brockway's Hunter Miller to teammate Adam Trunzo. ECC'S Jared Baun caught the conversion pass. Bradford's Mitch Vleminckx ended the scoring with a 29-yard TD.
Miller, who rushed for two first-half touchdowns, was named the AML'S Offensive MVP and Coudersport's Aaron Wolfinger the Defensive MVP. Kaden Powers from Karns City recovered two fumbles to earn the KSAC Defensive MVP. He also kicked a 52-yard field goal. Clarion-limestone's Mike Macefee who scored the KSAC TD earned the offensive honors.
AML Local Players: Ridgway - Justin Kasmierski, Colton Mcclain, Josh Raubenstrauch, Ryan Kilhoffer, and Jacob Anderson; ECC - Joe Kucenski, Doug Schatz, and Jared Braun; Kane - Keaton Rounsville, Davis Gardner, Issac Walters, Frank Truden, and Austin Labesky.
KSAC Local Players: St. Marys - Matt Marconi, Nick Williams, and Parker Smith.
2018 - AML 40, KSAC 14
Ridgway's Johnny Mitchell was named the AML Defensive MVP, despite not playing on that side of the ball during the season, and Kane's Reed Williams earned the offensive award.
Mitchell had an interception, recovered an on-side kick, and had several tackles and key pass deflections. He also averaged 45.8 yards on his five punts. Williams threw a 71-yard TD pass to Neil Macdonald and 60-yard to Wolves teammate Ray Maze. Macdonald finished the night with five catches for 107 yards.
Clarion's Colton Rapp (Offense) and Spencer Miller (Defense) earned the KSAC MVP awards.
AML Local Players: Ridgway – Neil Macdonald, Max Cowan, Jake Zimmerman, Drew Kilhoffer, and Johnny Mitchell; ECC - Brandon Reed; Kane - Erik Delong, Reed Williams, Ange Costanzo, Ray Maze, Anthony Smith, and Tyler Snyder.
KSAC Local Players: St. Marys - Tim Beimel and Carter Julian.
2019 - KSAC 20, AML 7
The win was the first for the KSAC. They set the tone by marching 65 yards on their first drive.
Clarion's Logan Minich scored from two yards out capping off a 65-yard opening drive. After holding the AML on downs Brookville's Bryan Dworek, the KSAC offensive MVP, took a short pass from Punxsutawney's Dylan Ishman and dashed for a score. Ishman hit Clarion's Sam Minich for a 14-yard score before the half. He was also named the KSAS Defensive MVP.
Brockway's Garrett Mcclintick, the AML Defensive MVP, scored his team's TD with a 45-yard interception return. Rovers quarterback Peter Downing was the Offensive MVP.
AML Local Players: Ridgway - Evan Furlong, Daunte Allegretto, Chase Pontious, Parker Rohr, and Isaac Schloder; Elk County Catholic - Hunter Cashmer, Ben Sherry, Alex Breindel and Ryan Fritz; Kane – None.
KSAC Local Players: St. Marys - Alex Agosti.
2020 – AML 24, KSAC 6
The game was moved from June to August 7 due to COVID-19. It was played minus fans in the stands.
Elkers quarterback Paul Gresco threw second-quarter touchdowns to teammates Austin Green (34 yards) and Matt Dush (12 yards) giving the AML a 17-6 lead at the intermission.
Green finished the game with three catches for 76 yards and the score and was named the AML Offensive MVP.
The winners held the KSAC to just 125 yards of total offense while avenging the 2019 loss.
A 50-yard scamper by Elk County Catholic's John Wittman sealed the deal. He also had a key fourth quarter interception and was named his team's Defensive MVP.
Kane's Aaron Hottel's 39-yard field goal opened the scoring for the AML 4:20 into the game.
The KSAC, dressing just 17 players, took a 6-3 lead with 42 seconds left in the opening quarter when Karns City QB Anthony Kamenski found fellow Gremlin Hunter Rowe in the end zone. The PAT attempt by Cain Pfoutz of St. Marys was blocked by Kane's Teddy Race.
Elk County Catholic's Tony Gerg was the head coach for the AML.
Rowe was named the KSAC Offensive MVP and Clarion's Mitch Knepp the Defensive MVP.
AML Local Players: Ridgway - Robert Briggs, Matt Dush, Austin Green, Paul Gresco, Hayden Haupright, Greg Simon, and Jake Wickett; Elk County Catholic - Leo Gregory, John Wittman, and Jared Emmert; Kane - Jake Alcorn, Aaron Hottel, Teddy Race, Kevin Scharba (unable to play), and Chris Stewert.
KSAC Local Players: St. Marys - Jake Walter, Cain Pfoutz, Forest Cressley, and Gage Burford.
2021 – South 14, North 12
The high-powered South rallied with two third-quarter scores to erase a 12-0 halftime deficit to win Friday's Frank Varischetti Allstar Game held at Varischetti Field.
For the most part, defense was the name of the game. The North made up of players from teams that played in the IU9 Bubble in the fall, held the flashy District 9 South team to 157 yards of total offense – 56 in the first half.
Kane's Zuke Smith and Ridgway's Ben Briggs led scoring drives in the second quarter to give the North a 12-0 lead.
The 26 total points were the lowest in the game's six-year history.
Smith was the North Offensive MVP and Brayden Johnson, who was forced to leave the game due to injury, the Defensive MVP. Karn City's Nathan Waltman was the South's Offensive MVP and Punxsutawney's Kobe Bonnano the Defensive MVP..
Port Allegany's Justin Beinkowski was the head coach for the North.
North Local Players: Alex Bon, Ben Briggs, Dominic Cherry, Ricky Delhunty, and Jake Kunselman; Kane – Zuke Smith, Josh Buhl, Bobby Rumcik, and Reese Novosel; Elk County Catholic – Nick Crisp, Sam Kaul, and Bryan Schatz; St. Marys – Terry Williams, Conner Bressler, Jacob Kline, Garret Bauer, Simon Sheeley, and Mitchell Reiter.