Montco won a thriller over the Bucks County all-stars in the first annual Bucks-Montco Lions All-Star Classic at William Tennent High School. Photos are provided courtesy of Jon Sklut. Check back to view a gallery of game action photos...CLICK HERE.
By Scott Huff
Warminster – The inaugural Bucks-Montco Lions All-Star Classic was a memorable one as the Montco team held on to a 19-17 victory as the potential game winning 24-yard field goal for the Bucks missed just wide right on the final play of the game.
“I lost my last game coaching high school football to Cheltenham in the last minute,” said Montco head coach Tim Sorber who retired at the end of last season as head coach at Abington. “And to be able to hold on to win this game in the last minute is something to remember.
“To be able to coach this group of guys was a great experience,” added Sorber. “And to be able to coach with (Cheltenham head coach) Joe Gro and (Upper Dublin head coach) Bret Stover and the entire staff was a whole lot of fun.”
“There was a lot of grit shown by both teams,” said Bucks head coach John Donnelly. “They had a moment where they were down and we could have finished it and vice versa.
“Guys that are rivals come together and become teammates, really embracing each other over the course of a couple of weeks. They really, really played their tails off. Some of the guys are going to make friendships for a lifetime. That’s what it’s all about.”
The score may not have reflected it – but there was an enormous amount of passing offense on display. The two teams combined for a staggering 528 passing yards as Montco’s Branden Mack (Cheltenham/Temple) - and the Bucks’ duo of Tom Garlick (Quakertown/Ursinus) and Mike Alley (Pennsbury/West Chester) looked polished and poised in the pocket.
Mack – who was voted the offensive MVP for the Montco team – scored a rushing touchdown and passed for two scores. His 65-yard touchdown strike to high school teammates Akeem Browne (Cheltenham/California U.) came on the first offensive play of the game, and Mack’s second score with a minute-and-a-half remaining proved to be the game-winning 35-yard touchdown dart to Nyfease West (North Penn/Delaware State).
“Winning this game really meant a lot to me,” said Mack. “I played against a lot of these players for four years, and now to have them as teammates was special.
“To play for Coach Sorber in this game is quite an honor,” added Mack. “It was great for him to go out as a coach with a win.”
“Temple has themselves a great talent in Branden,” said Sorber. “I think the offensive and defensive coaches are going to fight over him. He could be an excellent wide receiver or an excellent defensive back.
“Branden has a great football I.Q. and is extremely smart,” added Sorber. “We wanted to use him as both a receiver and defensive back, but Casey Walsh (Hatboro Horsham/Albright) came down with strep throat and Branden had to play the entire game at quarterback.”
The Montco defense limited the Bucks offense to the 17 points by creating eight sacks. And Montco defensive MVP Isaiah Henrich applied quite a bit of pressure on the quarterbacks all night.
“I just love playing football under those Friday night lights,” smiled Henrich (Upper Dublin/East Stroudsburg). “Playing with these guys the last couple of weeks has been really cool.
“It was a humbling experience to be picked to play in this game,” added Henrich who is also an elite lacrosse player. “I respect not only my teammates, but the players on the other team.”
Two of those elite players on the Bucks squad were Denzel Hughes (Neshaminy/Bloomsburg) who was voted the offensive MVP and Thomas Hewitt (Council Rock North/Holy Cross) who was voted the defensive MVP.
“It’s just the opportunity of playing with all these guys you know – some of them are on your team, some are from rivalries,” said Hughes who caught a game-high nine passes. “It’s just a great opportunity to go out – win or lose – and play in an all star game.
“I got to know guys on and off the field,” added Hughes. “We had 10 practices, some two-a-days, so we got to know each other.”
“The thing I enjoyed the most was just meeting all these guys from different teams that I had never met before,” said Hewitt. “Just bonding with them and having a new experience.
“At first, I was a little hesitant,” continued Hewitt. “I didn’t want to do anything to hurt myself, but when I got here, it was just a great time. Practice was a little tough but it got me back into the football mentality.”
The game was competitive throughout and saw four lead changes. There were great throws, great catches, ferocious hits, and a controlled intensity that sometimes is missing from an all-star game.
And on an extremely nice early June night for football – the inaugural Bucks-Montco Lions Classic was about as close to a classic as an all-star game can be.
EXTRA POINTS: After Montco went on top 19-17, Garlick put the Bucks’ all-stars in a position to win it with an impressive late-game drive that was highlighted by a fourth-down desperation pass on the run that was hauled in by Rob Daly (Pennsbury/Ithaca) at the seven-yard line…Daly was on the receiving end of another remarkable play, hauling in a 51-yard halfback option pass from teammate Steve Iannuzzi. Earlier, Iannuzzi’s 20-yard field goal made it a 7-3 game…Alley connected with Maurice Jackson (Truman/Richmond) for an eight-yard touchdown pass to account for Bucks’ other score…Friday night’s game was dedicated in memory of former Norristown football coach Roger Grove, who passed away on May 13, 2016. Most recently, Grove served as an assistant at Neshaminy High School.
Montgomery County All Stars 7 6 0 6 * 19
Bucks County All Stars 9 0 6 2 * 17
Scoring:
M: Akeem Browne 65 pass from Branden Mack (Todd Sprit kick)
B: Stephen Iannuzzi 20 Field Goal
B: Maurice Jackson 8 pass from Mike Alley (kick failed)
M: Mack 1 run (pass failed)
B: Safety
B: Tom Garlick 1 run (run failed)
M: Nyfease West 35 pass from Mack (kick blocked)
Montgomery County Bucks County
12 First Downs 24
(-4) Yards Rushing 45
216 Yards Passing 312
212 Total Offense 357
8-82 Penalties / Yds 8-65
4-25 Punts / average 4-34
Montgomery County
Rushing: Nyfease West 5 carries 14 yards; Kalief Lee 6-7; Nafeese Nasir 2-(-2); and Branden Mack 11-(-23). Totals – 24-(-4).
Passing: Mack 13 completions; 22 attempts; 216 yards; 2 touchdowns.
Receiving: Akeem Browne 6 catches 125 yards and TD; Nasir 3-42; Justin Ostopowicz 2-7; West 1-35 and TD; Jermaine Webb 1-7. Totals 13-216 and 2 TD.
Bucks County
Rushing: Justin Fant 9-37; Maurice Jackson 1-21; Rob Burns 7-8; Tom Garlick 8- (-10) and Mike Alley 6 (-11). Totals 31-45.
Passing: Garlick 13-21-1; 162 yards; Alley 9-13-0; 74 yards and TD; Stephen Iannuzzi 1-1-0; 51 yards. Totals 24-36-312.
Receiving: Denzel Hughes 9-87; Rob Daly 6-126; Kyle Hickey 4-41; Fant 2-20; Alley 1-25; Jackson 1-8 and TD; Joe Vitelli 1-5. Totals 24-312 & TD.
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