Ridgway players key the North's Varischetti win
BROCKWAY – The four Elkers, Domenic Allegretto, Hunter Wall, Camron Marciniak, and Dan Park, were keys to the North's 21-13 win over the South in Friday night's 7th Annual Frank Varischetti AllStar Game.
Allegretto, who was named his team's Offensive MVP, scored three TDs, including a punt return of 43 yards with 5:24 left in the first half to tie the game 7-7. He also scored on two and four-yard runs. Smethport's Noah Lent added the PATS.
Wall was named the North Defensive-MVP. Besides his many tackles, he recovered a fumble.
Marciniak rushed for 119 yards, including a 60-yard dash that led to Allegretto's two-yard score, which came with 1:44 left in the half.
Park made things difficult for South QB Bryson Bain of PIAA Class 2A runner-up Redbank Valley after early success. The Bulldog hit teammate Marquese
Gardlock for a 37yard TD for the game's first score. It came 1:44 after the South recovered a fumble on the game's opening drive.
Allegretto finished with 34 yards rushing. Smethport's Noah Lent, who shared time with Christian Coudriet from St. Marys, gained 74 yards. His fake punt run for 12 yards was good for a first down and shift in momentum after the South's opening score.
Karn's City's Luke Garing, named the South Offensive MVP, rushed for 108 yards, and scored with 5:27 left, making it 21-13. Nick Cosper missed the PAT.
Smethport's Alex Ognen recovered the onside kick attempt. The South used its final timeout with 2:36 left after Allegretto gained nine yards for a first down at the 19-yard line. The Elker gained another two yards before a lightning strike forced the game to end.
Coudriet threw for 105 yards. Connor Bullers, Tony Lewis, and Colton Swanson also represented the Dutch.
Jake Parrish and Dom Zambanini represented Elk County Catholic. Kane's Jake Costanzo, Harley Morris, and Cooper Nystrom were also in uniform for the North, coached by Chris Dworek of St. Marys. Tough Start Karns City's Aaron Taylor recovered the opening drive fumble on the North 32-yard line. Bain hit Gardlock on a fourth-and-15 from the 37.
North head coach Chris Dworek was pleased with how his team responded.
"The guys didn't panic and cave into emotions. It was a good sign that nobody had their head down. It was cool to see them just keep battling before getting the momentum."
The next North drive ended with an incompletion, but the momentum began to swing in their favor when Lent picked up a first down with a 10-yard run on fourth-and-eight from his own 28-yard line.
"Every play you call, you hope works," said Dworek. "It was a good spot to do it, and we ran it a lot during the week, so that was a big play for us."
While the drive ended in an interception at the South 12-yard line, the shift in momentum became evident when the North forced a three-and-out. Marciniak, Park, and Wall all had big tackles.
Allegretto went 65-yards to the endzone on the return, but it was nullified by a block in the back. Later, a fourth-down incompletion ended the drive at the South six-yard line. Seize Control Wall grabbed Bain in the backfield on second down at the South's six-yard line, and a third-down incompletion forced a punt from the endzone. Allegretto fielded the ball at the 43 and went to the house with 5:24 left before the intermission. Lent booted the PAT making it 7-7.
The North kept the momentum, forced another punt, and took over on their own 23. Marciniak blasted through a gaping hole for the 60yard run that set up Allegretto's second score.
Wall pounced on the fumble on the ensuing South drive.
An interference call kept the North drive alive and set them up on the 22-yard line. But unfortunately, Keystone's Landon Hurrelbrink recovered a fumble with 20 seconds left. Second Half After an 11-yard completion on the opening drive, Garing bulled his way to the North's 35yard line with a 20-yard gain. After another first down to the 22, Park sacked Bain for a nineyard loss. The drive ended with nine and twoyard runs by Garing and an incompletion.
On first down, Coudriet connected with Ognen for a 39-yard gain to the South 41-yard line. Marciniak followed with a 16-yard run. On second down, a great block by Ognen allowed Coudriet to gain 21 yards to the
four-yard line. Allegretto scored two plays later with 5:10 left in the third.
After exchanging possessions, the South set themselves up for the final score taking over at the North 21. Bain hit Brycen Dinkfelt for a 16-yard gain before Garing took it in from the five with 5:27 left.
The Ognen onside recovery followed. Coach's comments "This is awesome," said Dworek. "On the first day, we said we were going to work hard and have some fun along the way, but the game was going to be super competitive. We have competitive coaches and players, and they bought in."
Many in the area felt the South was a clearcut favorite with their roster that included 14 players from Redbank Valley and Karns City - the 2021 D9 Class A and 2A champions. Dworek acknowledged his team was aware of those comments.
"I heard it, and
made sure the kids heard it. So, it was motivation for us. They have good players, but after they [had success early], we were able to adjust. That's a testament to our players being able to stay focused."
The North coach commented on the play of his two QBs, who kept their opponents guessing.
"They both have different strengths, and they're easy to coach. So, we just ran what they were comfortable with, and it was special."
Notes - The victory avenged last year's 1412 South win giving the North (formerly the AML) a 5-2 advantage…Four of the eight South penalties were personal fouls…Christian Kirk from DuBois was named the South's Defensive MVP... Allegretto, Marciniak, Park, Costanzo, Morris, Coudriet, Bullers, and Zambanini received $1,000 scholarships before the kickoff. Ten players from each squad received scholarships.