Northshore's All Stars unable to match Southshore

The best seniors representing the Northshore and Southshore teed it up Saturday afternoon in the Superdome, participating in the Joe Johnson Lake Pontchartrain All-Star Football Classic.

The Southshore All-Stars coached by Wayne Cordova, the St. Augustine Purple Knights former coach, used their speed and athleticism to cruise past the Northshore squad 33-3. The Southshore victory avenged a 27-6 defeat in last year’s classic.

The Southshore set the defensive tempo early with Karr defensive back Shakiel Smith intercepting Amite quarterback Brandon Mitchell on a third-and-four situation. Smith hauled in the errant pass and returned it 38 yards for a score. The PAT was wide right, giving the Southshore a 6-0 lead with 12:33 left in the first quarter.

Following Smith’s interception return, both teams had to punt on their next possessions. On the Southshore punt, the ball was fumbled and recovered by the Southshore all-stars at the Northshore 32-yard line with 10:10 left in the opening period.

Helen Cox quarterback Darius Carey directed a nine-play drive, capping it off with a one-yard TD on a keeper to push the lead to 12-0 with 5:29 to go in the opening quarter. Carey connected with Clark running back Cherick Williams for a successful two-point attempt to make it 14-0 with all the points coming off the two Northshore turnovers. Carey finished hitting 7-of-10 passes for 61 yards. Carey (5-10, 185) passed for 2,513 yards and 35 TDs for the Cox Cougars in nine games during the season.

Carey, who accepted the winners’ trophy on behalf of his teammates, said he took the game to heart.

“I’m glad I was able to do my part in the game. It was real special being a part of the victorious team playing in the Superdome. Not too many players get this opportunity to play in the Superdome. I played with a little intensity because they beat us last year. I was really excited,” Carey said.

The Northshore was held to a three-and-out on its next possession following the Southshore touchdown. Covington High’s Matt McCormick, who averaged 41.4 yards per punt during the regular season with kicks of 66 and 67 yards, got off a 37-yard punt, which was fumbled. Franklinton’s BJ Dykes recovered the ball to put the Northshore in business at the Southshore 28 with 4:19 to go in the opening quarter. Slidell quarterback Blake Forbis, who finished 3-of-4 passing for 12 yards in the game, was unable to guide the Northshore to a first down following the fumble recovery.

Northshore All-Star head coach Guy Lecompte, the Mandeville Skippers’ mentor, called upon NCS place kicker Kevin Pence for a 43-yard field goal attempt. Pence split the uprights out of a hold by Northshore’s Andrew Cossé to cut the lead to 14-3 with 2:26 on the clock.

Pence said it was his longest field goal of his career and talked about the kick.

“I hit it good. The ball was kind of going to the left. I was just hoping it would stay straight. It stayed true,” Pence said.

“I was hoping to be a little bit more busy in the game place kicking, but it didn’t happen.”

Pence talked about his thoughts when he entered the Superdome to loosen up.

“It was kind of surreal walking in and seeing such a huge stadium, knowing this is where the Saints play,” Pence said.

Following Pence’s field goal, Southshore quarterback Rico Jones (John Ehret) dropped back to pass on first down and was picked off by Dykes. The Northshore couldn’t take advantage of the turnover and was forced to punt.

With 9:33 left in the first half, Helen Cox’s Duron Singleton intercepted a pass.

The Southshore added to its lead when Jones hit John McDonogh’s Derek Woods on a nine-yard toss to increase the lead to 21-3 following the point after touchdown with 6:24 remaining in the first half.

In the third quarter, Jones finished off a five-play 31-yard drive, scoring from five-yards out with just 20 seconds left. The PAT was no good, but the Southshore held a commanding 27-3 lead.

Carey closed out the scoring teaming up with his Cox teammate Javon Lawson on a 26-yard strike with 6:58 remaining. The point after brought the score to 33-3.

With less than two minutes to go, the Northshore blocked a punt, which was recovered by Mandeville High’s Hayden Harper. Amite’s Mitchell hit teammate Jermil Perkins with a 13-yard gainer. Perkins carried the ball on the final play of the game, but was stopped just short of the goal.

LeCompte said it was great having an opportunity to coach such a tremendous group of senior athletes.

“A lot of friendships were formed for both the players and coaches,” he said.

Northshore head coach Mike Bourg served as the Northshore All-Stars offensive coordinator for the second year.

“The Southshore coaches did a great job. You have to give them credit. We just couldn’t establish anything on offense. We came out in the second half trying to establish the run, but we shot ourselves in the foot with bad field position. When we tried to throw the ball we couldn’t protect our quarterbacks,” Bourg said.

For each of the seniors it was an opportunity to cap off their high school careers hitting the Superdome turf, helping to form memories that will last a lifetime for the all-star classic participants. During halftime, Johnson, the Saints’ former defensive end and New Orleans’ Hall of Famer, presented a number of athletes with trophies for being recognized as R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl players of the week.

Salmen senior quarterback Julien Troullier, who was injured during the season, was on hand to receive his trophy. Northshore junior quarterback Jervious Epherson was unavailable, but he was recognized along with other players of the week for their award winning efforts.