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Local players make big impact
TERRE HAUTE -- They may come from small schools, but on Saturday they made their presence known.
Saturday's Wabash Valley Coach's Association All-Star Game had more than 80 players from around the Wabash Valley to ISU Memorial Stadium. However, the 32-27 come-from-behind win for the South All-Stars (their first in the game's four-year history) saw some notable performances from some recent Putnam County graduates.
For the South team, South Putnam's Josh Sanders had a key third-quarter interception that helped the team stretch a small lead. The former Eagle also added a pair of tackles and a pass breakup.
Teammate Zach McCallie, of Cloverdale, was the game's second-leading tackler with six as well as a pass breakup.
For the North team, which held a 14-0 advantage at the half, North Putnam's Kyle Rooker rushed 10 times for 25 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 31 yards.
Rooker also took home one of the day's big honors, earning one of the five scholarships awarded for the work during the week. He was one of two recipients of the Hall of Fame Scholarship, which is selected by all-star teammates.
Former Cougar J.T. Francies started the game with a bang, forcing a fumble on the opening kickoff. He finished with three tackles and the forced fumble.
In the game, the North team had a great first quarter, building a 14-0 lead.
After a scoreless second, though, the South team came roaring back with 24-straight points in the third. North added a touchdown to make it 24-20 after three.
The North All-Stars took one last lead at 27-24 early in the fourth, but South put the game away with a touchdown and two-point conversion with 3:45 remaining.
For the North team, North Putnam's Adam Vondersaar also had a nice game, finishing with five tackles.
On the South side, Cloverdale's Allen Kincaid had two tackles, including a seven-yard sack. Greencastle's Blake Robinson and Cloverdale Aaron Dayhuff each added a pair of tackles, while South Putnam's Brad Bunten had one tackle.
Other Putnam County athletes selected to the teams were South Putnam's Ben Parker and Jacob Wise, North Putnam's Austin Malayer and David Church and Greencastle's Rickey Robinson.
At Memorial Stadium
Wabash Valley Coach's Association All-Star Game
South All-Stars 32, North All-Stars 27
North 14 0 6 7 -- 27
South 0 0 24 8 -- 32
1st Quarter
North -- Jered Timm (Northview) 18 pass from Travis Johnson (Marshall), 10:51; Josh Dunckel (Casey) kick
North -- Kyle Rooker (North Putnam) 2 run, 0:16; Dunckel kick
3rd Quarter
South -- Koby Kraemer (Terre Haute South) 5 pass from Chris Wampler (Red Hill), 7:01; Ryan Roberts (Palestine-Hutsonville) run
South -- Kraemer 35 pass from Roberts, 3:32; Roberts run
South -- Brad Padgett (Red Hill) 35 pass from Wampler, 3:08; Roberts run
North -- Brandon Dorsett (Terre Haute North) 27 pass from Kenny Flood
(Cumberland), 0:43; kick blocked
4th Quarter
North -- Flood 14 run, 8:29 4th; Dunckel kick
South -- Roberts 1 run, 3:45 4th; Nick Straka (Red Hill) run
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs -- North 16, South 13
Rushes-yards -- North 26-48, South 32-137
Passing yards -- North 260, South 148
Comp-Att-Int -- North 20-34-2, South 9-22-0
Return yards -- North 20, South 50
Punts-avg -- North 3-26, South 6-29
Fumbles-lost -- North 6-3, South 5-2
Penalties-yards -- North 2-19, South 2-10
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- North: Rooker 10-25, Flood 4-15, Jake Peters (Cumberland) 3-6, Grant Mitchell (Riverton Parke) 3-6, Johnson 4-4, John Garvin (Terre Haute North) 2-(-8). South: Roberts 12-75, Wampler 6-22, Paul Miller (Olney) 5-15, Josh Kincaid (Robinson) 4-9, Straka 2-8, Kraemer 3-8.
Passing -- North: Flood 12-18-2, 146 yards; Johnson 8-14-0, 114; Garvin 0-1-0; Rooker 0-1-0. South: Wampler 8-17-0, 113; Roberts 1-5-0, 35.
Receiving -- North: Dorsett 6-56, Daniel Martin (Rockville) 4-54, Timm 3-71, Alan Wolter (Marshall) 3-31, Rooker 2-31, Kye Butler (Cumberland) 2-17. South: Kraemer 6-87, B.Padgett 1-35, Michael Woodsmall (North Central) 1-20, Zach McVaigh (Olney) 1-6.
Defensive (Putnam County only) -- North: Adam Vondersaar (North Putnam) 5 tackles; J.T. Francies (North Putnam) 3 tackles, 1 fumble forced. South: Zach McCallie (Cloverdale) 6 tackles, 1 pass breakup; Allen Kincaid (Cloverdale) 2 tackles, 1 sack; Josh Sanders (South Putnam) 2 tackles, 1 interception, 1 pass breakup; Blake Robinson (Greencastle) 2 tackles; Aaron Dayhuff (Cloverdale) 2 tackles; Brad Bunten (South Putnam) 1 tackle.