North evens up series with a 28-17 win over the South

Written by: EasternPAFootball.com Staff on Saturday, December 31st, 2011. Follow EasternPAFootball.com Staff on Twitter.

EDGEWATER – Archbishop Wood’s Nate Smith made a statement right from the opening bell, returning the kickoff 90-yards for a score. State College’s quarterback Josh Weakland threw two touchdown passes to pace the North over the South 28-17 in the second Chesapeake Bowl at South River High School.

The North squad is made up of players from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The South is made up for players from Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia and West Virginia. The South won last year’s inaugural game 30-27.

The Chesapeake Bowl started off with a bang with two big kickoff returns. Smith took the opening kickoff and went 90-yards for the score. Not to be out done, Potomac’s Ronald Darby answered with a 77-yard kickoff to tie the game up at seven.

The North drove 53-yards on their next drive. Pittsburgh Central Catholic’s Quarterback Perry Hills’ 36-yard run down to the South 5 setup the next score. Furness Sharif Smith’s five-yard score gave the North a 14-7 lead. Hills rushed for 82 yards in the first quarter.

A pair of Central Catholic players starred in the first quarter. This time it was Anthony Nixon’s turn. Nixon stepped in front of a pass on the North 44, intercepted it and ran it back to the South 28.

In came State College’s quarterback Josh Weakland who threw one pass for 28-yards to Imani Christian’s Ray Cathie for the score. Then the North’s lead grew 21-7 with 3:20 left in the 1st quarter.

The South kicker Austin Grebe kicked a 37-yard field goal to trim the North lead to 21-10 with 11:14 remaining in the first half.

That would be the closest the South team would get the rest of the way.

Late in the half, Weakland found a wide-open Bruce Mapp of West Catholic. The combo combined for 61-yards for the score. The North extended their lead to 28-10.

The South drove down to the North three-yard line in the closing seconds of the first half but failed to convert on fourth down and goal.

The North defense held and went into halftime with a 18 point lead, 28-10.

The only score of the second half came when St. John’s QB Ben Onett hit Good Counsel’s Wes Brown for a 65-yard bomb. North now led 28-17 with13:01 remaining in the game.

The North running game wore down the South defense and ran out the clock late in the game.

Nate Smith won a state 3A championship two weeks ago. He was named most valuable player for his performance last night.

South 7 3 7 0 — 17

North 21 7 0 0 — 28

N – Nate Smith 90-yard kickoff return

S – Ronald Darby 77-yard kickoff return

N – Sharif Smith 5-yard run

N – Ray Cathie 28-yard pass from Josh Weakland

S – Austin Grebe 37-yard FG

N – Bruce Mapp 61-yard pass from Josh Weakland

S – Wes Brown 65-yard pass from Ben Onett

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