North Penn quarterback Mike Berstecher threw for three touchdowns and was named the North MVP in Thursday night’s Montgomery County All-Star Football Game. To view game photos, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Mary Jane Souder
Mike Berstecher was certain he had played his final high school football game last fall, so when the North Penn senior received word that he would have one last opportunity to put on the pads, he was ecstatic.
“I didn’t think I would ever get to play in a high school football game again, and then I got the e-mail,” Berstecher said of his invitation to participate in the annual Montgomery County All-Star Classic. “Emotions shot from everywhere. My mom was all excited, and I was so excited. It was crazy in my house that night.”
Berstecher and his teammate weren’t interested in just playing in the all-star game. They wanted to make sure they excelled.
“We practiced hard all week – everyone did,” he said. “We practiced every single day. No one missed practice. We practiced hard, we did what we had to do, and we knew we would be successful.”
No one was more successful than Berstecher, who connected on 9-of-14 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns and earned North MVP honors while leading his team to a 40-7 rout of the South.
“This is great,” he said. “A quarterback usually gets (the MVP award), but not in high school. I figured a running back would get it, but I guess they appreciated what I was doing out there on the field.
“But it’s the other guys that do the hard work. I get the ball, but they block for me, they run their routes for me, and I just have to put it there.”
Berstecher served early notice that he had come to play, connecting with Wissahickon’s Gordan Bentley for a 38-yard TD strike to put the North on the scoreboard with 9:52 still remaining in the opening quarter.
“It helped me knowing the system already, and it helped the coaches also because I could help the kids out, let them know what they were supposed to do,” he said. “Especially since I’m the quarterback, the responsibility is in my hands.”
By the time Berstecher connected for his next touchdown – an 11-yard completion to North Penn teammate Steve Gozur with 1:23 remaining in the opening half, the North led 24-0 after the extra point by North Penn’s Brandon Mandes.
And they weren’t finished yet.
A 45-yard completion by Berstecher to Souderton senior Anthony Williams – and the Mandes extra point – sent the North into halftime with a commanding 31-0 lead.
“We just did what we had to do,” Berstecher said. “We focused on the little things. It’s not the big things that really matter. It’s all the little things – being in this spot at this time.
“We did it. We executed the way we were supposed to. Everyone here is great, everyone deserves to be here.”
Interestingly, Berstecher started his senior season last year playing tight end before rotating in at the quarterback position with junior Austin Shearer.
“It was a great job by him,” North coach Dick Beck said. “What can I say? It’s the perfect game for him because he knows our offense – the reads are easy, and he knows where the targets are at.
“He did a great job. He did a great job as a leader, and he obviously played well tonight.”
Thursday’s win snapped a five-year losing streak to the South. The last time the North had won was in 2007.
“The score was a little lopsided tonight, but maybe they know the curse too, and they got a little cocky,” Berstecher said with a laugh.
Whatever the case, Berstecher – who will be playing collegiate football at Misericordia - and his teammates brought the North’s losing streak to an emphatic end.
- Log in to post comments
