High school football players representing the South defeated the North squad 33-12 in the Minnesota Football Showcase on Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The game was the 46th annual MFCA Tackle Cancer All-Star Football Game and the third at U.S. Bank Stadium.
A game-record 89 different high schools were represented by the seniors who had one more opportunity to don their helmets and sport custom purple and white uniforms.
A pair of quick turnovers helped the South take a 12-0 lead despite having run just one offensive snap.
Mankato West linebacker Clay Herding recorded a 16-yard interception return touchdown on the third snap of the game for a 6-0 lead, and the South forced a fumble recovered by East Ridge linebacker Jack Mohler three plays later.
Eden Prairie quarterback Cole Kramer connected with East Ridge receiver Simon Stark for a 23-yard touchdown on the ensuing snap.
Owatonna running back Jason Williamson ran multiple plays out of the Wildcat and scored on a 1-yard touchdown before adding in a jump pass to Spring Grove tight end Ethan Matzke for a 2-point conversion and 20-0 lead.
The South turned another turnover into points late in the first half. The North advanced to the red zone and tried to trickery with a lateral for a receiver pass, but Rosemount defensive back Evan Geiwitz intercepted the ball near the goal line.
Minnetonka quarterback Aaron Syverson took a deep shot from the South 5-yard line and lofted a pass to Cretin-Derham Hall receiver Peter Udoibok, who caught the ball in stride at the 34 and had enough speed to go the distance for a 26-0 lead with 18 seconds left in the first half.
Udoibok started the second half with a 35-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Kramer for a 33-0 lead with 11:30 left in the third quarter. Udoibok did his purple 84 jersey justice by high-pointing the jump ball a la Randy Moss.
The North got on the board with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Breck quarterback David Roddy to Treyton Welch with 6:22 left in the third quarter.
Roddy added another 9-yard scoring strike on a pass to Sauk Rapids-Rice receiver Braden Tretter with 8:44 left in the fourth quarter.
The day included appearances by Vikings receiver Brandon Zylstra, who played in the All-Star game in 2011, and safety Anthony Harris, as well as a youth football clinic and Madden '19 tournament.
The game capped a high school season that featured five games at the Vikings headquarters, Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, and multiple playoff games at U.S. Bank Stadium.
FVP MVPs
Four players were recognized as FVP MVPs.
Herding was named Defensive MVP for the South, and Udoibok was named Offensive MVP.
Minneapolis North defensive back Omar Brown was named MVP for the North, and Roddy was named Offensive MVP.
All-State Team
The 2018 Minnesota High School Football All-State Team, presented by FVP, will be recognized at Sunday's Vikings-Dolphins game. The team is comprised of the state's premier senior prospects and is selected by a committee of sportswriters, broadcasters, Vikings staff, and Minnesota High School Football coaches. The members of the team are:
Jenson Beachy (Perham), Bryce Benhart (Lakeville North), Latrell Bible (Minneapolis Washburn), Ryan Bieberdorf (Bemidji), Naz Borden (Cooper), Omar Brown (North St. Paul), Quinn Carroll (Edina), Matt Cavanagh (Edina), Drey Dirksen (Willmar), Alex Folz (Spring Grove), Parker Freiberg (Irondale), Sam Fritz (Spring Lake Park), Brandon Gustafson (Becker), Terrell Hall (Winona), Cooper Hansen (R-T-R), Evan Hull (Maple Grove), Blake Johnson (Dassel Cokato), Jason Kaul (Blaine), Cole Kramer (Eden Prairie), Nick McCabe (Caledonia), Brandon McFadden (St. Thomas Academy), Daimarion Nelson (St. Paul Johnson), Cade Plath (Chanhassen), David Roddy (Breck), Luke Ryan (BOLD), Marcus Shepley (Burnsville), Aaron Syverson (Minnetonka), Cody Thompson (Pipestone), Treyton Welch (Buffalo), Brandon Westberg (Cambridge Isanti), Jason Williamson (Owatonna), Cole Woodford (Redwood Valley)
