Published: June 21, 2009 12:36 am      

South strikes early in Lantzy victory

The South made a statement 18 seconds into the 39th Ken Lantzy Finest 40 all-star football game at Johnstown’s Trojan Stadium.

Not even a minute later, the Rebels put an exclamation point on that statement with another score.

Even after the North made it a game late in the opening half, the South regained its composure and dominated in a 50-38 victory on Saturday night.

With the victory in the 3 hour, 20-minute marathon, the South extended its Lantzy winning streak to four consecutive games and six of the past seven. Overall, the Rebels hold a 23-16 all-time advantage in the series.

South quarterback Cory Kaltenbaugh of North Star tossed a short pass to Tim Ripple near the sideline, and the Richland receiver dashed

82 yards for a touchdown only 18 seconds into the game.

Ligonier’s Matt Beckman booted the extra-point giving the South a 7-0 lead after what might have been the fastest score to open a Lantzy game.

The South’s Patrick Hall of Laurel Valley intercepted the next play from scrimmage, putting his team on the North’s 20-yard line.

Three plays later, Kalten-baugh found his Cougars teammate Luke Zellem for a

13-yard touchdown pass only

1 minute, 13 seconds into the game.

South defensive end Brett Hankinson of Berlin stopped North back Scott Mehall on a fourth-and-short run that set up another scoring drive, this one capped by Bishop McCort back Eric Lowry’s 12-yard run that made it 21-0.

Northern Cambria’s Andrew Paronish got the North on the board with a 17-yard run that was followed by Marion Center’s Alex Patterson’s extra point.

Lantzy rules permit a team down by double digits to receive the kickoff after scoring a touchdown. The North took the ball again and drove 63 yards to a score on Blairsville quarterback Justin McGinnis’ 1-yard sneak.

But the South’s Taylor Holby of Blacklick Valley broke free for a 93-yard touchdown run on the ensuing kickoff to make it

28-14.

A roughing the kicker flag on a North field goal attempt put the ball inside the 10, leading to Forest Hills’ Mehall’s 7-yard run that pulled the North within

28-20 with 4:18 left in the opening half.

The North’s Bryon Stanek of Cambria Heights intercepted a pass at the 42 and returned to the 19. Garrett Sisak connected with Bedford’s Zach Hess, who battled for a 26-yard touchdown with a defender on him.

That set a 28-26 score that stood at halftime.

The South held the two-point margin despite the North’s running 51 plays to the South’s 15 in the opening 30 minutes.

The South began the second half with another offensive outburst.

Running back Quadir Christian of Johnstown took a direct snap, and then lateraled back to Kaltenbaugh, who found a wide-open Ripple over the middle for a 43-yard touchdown pass.

On the extra-point attempt, holder Jack Schrey of Bishop McCort to the snap, and then passed to Zellem to give the South a 10-point advantage.

Johnstown’s Christian scored a 2-yard touchdown on his home turf and the South led

43-26 at 6:38 of the third.

Lowry scored from the

4 late in the game to make it

50-26. Sisak passed 10 yards to Everett’s Cory Waltman to give the North a late touchdown and tie the all-time Lantzy record for combined points by both teams (82).

The North’s Andrew O’Saben of Central Cambria bolted five yards for a score with 1:35 left to pull his team within 50-38 and officially boosting the point total to a record 88.

The scholarship award winners for MVP honors for the North included: Central Cambria’s Mitch Kudlawiec (offensive line), Northern Cambria’s Paronish (offensive back), Chestnut Ridge’s Andy Tomovich (defensive back), and Purchase Line’s Craig Baker (defensive line).

The South MVPs are: Johnstown’s Dave Istanich (offensive line), Richland’s Ripple (offensive back), Berlin’s Hankinson (defensive line) and Laurel Valley’s Hall (defensive back).

The North’s winner of the Paul Shandor Memorial Award and scholarship was Gregory Strauss of Tussey Mountain.

The South winner of the David Rizzo Memorial Award was Westmont’s T.J. Keklak.