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FRANCONIA TWP – The chants of ‘South squad, South squad, South squad’ as the players gathered for the trophy presentation after South’s 27-17 win in Monday night’s Montgomery County All-Star football game suggested that this group of players had become something special.
They had for they had become a team, and that is not all that commonplace in all-star competition.
According to Cheltenham’s Damin Finley, that was the best part of the entire experience.
“It happens fast,” the Panthers’ senior running back said. “In two weeks, we have to build chemistry and jell as a team.
“Just coming together and everybody playing as a team – all the premiere players in Montgomery County came together, and we all showed our talents. It was a fun experience.”
Finley had three catches for 40 yards, and he also had 10 yards on the ground, but no one was all that concerned about personal accomplishments.
That being said, there was a decided sense of pride that a South squad – comprised of smaller schools – had won for the second straight year.
“All the talk is that the North is all the big schools like Souderton and North Penn, and two years in a row, we came out and just brought it to them non-stop, grinding the ball at them,” Upper Dublin senior lineman Frank Yurick said. “It’s showing something.”
“You always ask yourself as a little school what it would be like to get a chance in this game,” Upper Moreland’s Chris Smallwood said. “You have to show them what you have.”
Yurick acknowledged that the chemistry the South squad developed played a role in its success.
“We’ve been playing against each other, and over the years, we’re not to like each other,” he said. “But it’s a team now. It’s like family.”
Smallwood had battled injuries for much of his senior campaign, but healthy once again, the gifted back was the South’s leading ground gainer with 52 yards and a touchdown.
“It was very exciting because I was healthy,” he said. “I wanted to see how I would do, and it was very exciting playing with everyone. Everyone worked hard.”
For the North’s Todd Smolinsky, Monday’s all-star game was his first opportunity to put the pads on and compete since his North Penn squad lost to Ridley in the district title game.
“It was kind of good to come out here because our last game ended on such a bad note,” the Knights’ quarterback said. “I thought it would be a bad ending to my high school career, but you get to come out here, and this is just a great time all around.
“The people you get to meet are awesome.”
Smolinsky was an easy choice for MVP of the North squad, finishing the night with 81 yards rushing on 13 carries while completing 6-of-14 passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
“Everybody is in the same situation pretty much,” said Smolinsky, who will be taking his talents to Dickinson this fall. “We’re coming out here to have fun. The coaches did their best to prepare us, and I thought they did a great job. That made it easier for us to adjust.”
What will the players remember the most?
“My teammates,” Finley said. “The fun we had at practices and in the game and going to battle together.”
“Just winning,” Yurick said. ‘It was great winning, and the celebration afterwards was amazing.”
“It’s almost like a brotherhood,” Smallwood added. “We’re leaving a brotherhood.
“Everyone loves the game, and anyone who loves the game as much as you do – you almost consider them as a brother when we play the game. You see people working hard, and that makes you want to work hard. There’s a lot of excitement.”
There’s also a lot of camaraderie and good will as the players suited up for one last time in their high school careers.
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