Dominic Yanoshak of Bishop Guilfoyle hauls in a deep pass for the South team. Photo for the Mirror by Chuck Meyers

By Michael Boytim

mboytim@altoonamirror.com

TYRONE — Central’s Eli Lingenfelter tied a state record at any classification during his senior year with 27 touchdown catches.

He’ll have to check with state record keepers on whether Sunday’s two-touchdown performance in the 39th anniversary of the Lezzer Lumber Classic at Gray Veterans Memorial Field puts him over the top.

Lingenfelter and his teammates from the South team topped the North all-stars, 45-20.

“It was a blast,” Lingenfelter said. “This whole week was a blast, getting to know these guys. I didn’t know many of them going into this, so it was good to get to know some of the best football players in the region.”

Though Lingenfelter caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Hollidaysburg’s Tucker Rossman and a 37-yard score from Southern Huntingdon’s Nate Myers, his biggest play came defensively with just 18 seconds left in the third quarter.

With the North trying to pull within one score, Lingenfelter made a diving interception off a tipped Dan McGarry pass to keep his team comfortably ahead. For his efforts, he was voted the South’s Defensive Player of the Game.

“I read the quarterback’s eyes and knew where he was going with it,” Lingenfelter said. “Nate Myers made a great play tipping it, and I went and got the ball.”

Myers, an all-state quarterback, had a huge game with 207 yards and four touchdown passes. He also rushed for a team-high 47 yards.

Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic’s Dominic Yanoshak caught two of those touchdowns and finished with four grabs for 98 yards and won Offensive Player of the Game for the South.

“It was nice to shine out here and have some fun playing offense,” Yanoshak said.

On one of his catches, Yanoshak was slammed against the fence out of bounds and exchanged some shoves with DuBois’ Dalton Yale. A sideline warning was also issued.

“It got chippy, because everyone cares,” Yanoshak said. “It was a great time, and it was fun to make a lot of new friends out here, and it was a great game.”

The South victory cut the all-time series lead for the North down to 20-18.

Altoona’s Tyson Reid also caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Myers.

“We knew we had great athletes on the field,” Myers said. “I’m happy Eli, Dom and all these other athletes are so good to throw to.”

Glendale’s Zeke Dubler led the North’s rushing attack with 44 yards on just seven carries. Dubler will wrestle in college, so Sunday was his last football game.

“It was fun to lace up the cleats one more time,” Dubler said. “It was a good time. If I’m on the field, I’m going to give it my 100 percent best effort. That’s how I always play. I run as hard as I can, as fast as I can and give it my all.”

Dubler’s high school rival but teammate on Sunday, Moshannon Valley’s Connor Williams, had a sack and was named the North’s Defensive Player of the Game.

“It was really fun to be part of a team that had a lot of fun in practice and really got after it once we got on the field,” Williams said. “It felt great to get that sack. It was a surreal feeling, and it was perfect timing and got everyone excited.”

Penns Valley’s Miles Brooks, who had eight catches for 168 yards and a score beat out McGarry, who threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns, in a close vote for North Offensive Player of the Game.

The South was coached by Northern Bedford graduate and current Southern Huntingdon coach Aaron Batzel, who got to coach Myers one more time.

“I loved it,” Myers said. “I love Coach Batzel and have from the start. My sophomore year, he came in and I didn’t know how it was going to be. But he’s one of the best coaches I have ever seen.”

SUBHED: Notes

Former Juniata Valley coach Mike Smith, who died in February, and former Indian Valley coach Willie Breon were inducted into the Central Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame at halftime. … Former Central Mountain star and Penn State player Von Walker was the CPFCA honorary captain for the game. … State College’s Matt Lintal was named the CPFCA’s North Coach of the Year, and Central’s Dave Baker was the South’s Coach of the Year. … There was a choice to go for a two-point kick on extra points or a single point. … Once a team led by nine or more in the fourth quarter, the opponent was allowed to continue to receive to kickoff after a score unless it became closer than a nine-point deficit, leading to a couple extra possessions for the North.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

South 0 14 8 23 — 45

North 0 6 0 14 — 20

Second Quarter

N–Eckley 7 pass from McGarry (kick failed), 10:24.

S–Lingenfelter 7 pass from Rossman (kick failed), 6:18.

S–Yanoshak 11 pass from Myers (Palilla two-point kick), :49.

Third Quarter

S–Yanoshak 18 pass from Myers (Palilla two-point kick), 5:39.

Fourth Quarter

N–Brooks 53 pass from McGarry (Davis two-point kick), 10:15.

S–Reid 55 pass from Myers (Palilla two-point kick), 9:15.

N–Rex 39 pass from McGarry (kick failed), 8:50.

S–Caleb Smith 47 interception return (Palilla one-point kick), 8:28.

S–Lingenfelter 37 pass from Myers (Palilla kick), 2:37.

TEAM STATISTICS S N

First downs 12 16

Total yards 275 398

Rushes-yards 22-54 28-83

Yards passing 221 315

Passing (comp.-att.-int) 10-20-0 22-37-2

Punts-avg. 5-33.4 2-33

Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-2

Penalties-yards 9-69 9-112

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–South, Myers 8-47, Rhule 4-22, Reid 6-2, Yanoshak 2-(-2), TEAM 1-(-7), Rossman 1-(-8). North, Dubler 7-44, McGarry 13-43, Greene 4-13, Brooks 1-7, Henry 1-6, TEAM 2-(-30).

PASSING–South, Myers 8-11-0-207, Rossman 2-9-0-14. North, McGarry 21-36-2-307, Hayes 1-1-0-8.

RECEIVING–South, Yanoshak 4-98, Reid 2-67, Lingenfelter 2-44, Smith 1-7, Rhule 1-5. North, Brooks 8-168, Hayes 6-74, Greene 3-9, Rex 2-40, Dubler 1-9, McGarry 1-8, Eckley 1-7.

Officials: Referee–Ray Klinger, Umpire–Brad Bert, Head Linesman–Brett Herbert, Line Judge–Tracy Cornelius. Side Judge–Anthony Vega. Back Judge–Marcus Wolf. Field Judge–Dirk Grubb. Center Judge–Brian Bert.