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Putnam County quartet helps lead Black squad to 36-12 win over Gold squad at WVFCA All-Star Game
TERRE HAUTE – On a picturesque Saturday evening at Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium, four Putnam County athletes played out their final 48 minutes of football in the Wabash Valley Football Coaches’ Association All-Star Game.
All four county athletes played a part in the Black squad’s 36-12 win over the Gold squad during the game with Greencastle’s Connor George and Mark Hernandez and South Putnam’s Parker Pelfrey and Matt Goodpaster helping their team to a victory.
“We did good,” Pelfrey said. “It was hard to come together in a week but we did it.
“We all played well together.”
“It was pretty fun,” Hernandez said. “The guys were flying around, the defense was busting its hump to get where it needed to be to make things happen.
“It was a fun experience to be a part of that and to say we held (Gold) to 12 points.”
“It was a lot of fun, especially since we got the win,” Goodpaster said. “I definitely have a lot more respect for my d-tackles from high school.
“I never really knew how hard it was in the trenches, so I have a lot more respect for them now.”
“Our offense really carried but our defense played solid, too,” George said. “(William Newby) is an absolute stud but all around, we had a great week of practice.
“(Northview head coach Mark) Raetz led us there and we played one hell of a game.”
Nervous energy was evident early on as Pelfrey, who would end up playing every offensive snap at center for the Black team, had an errant snap go astray for a loss, one that forced an early Black squad punt.
“It means a lot,” Pelfrey said about being in the entire night. “Especially at center, having to worry about snaps and blocking, it means a lot for them to trust me with it all night.
“Just had to put the bad snap behind me and play through it.”
George would nearly get the ball back for the team with a strong hit over the middle that jarred the ball loose from a receiver, though the Gold team would recover after a lengthy scramble and George would exit briefly after the hit.
“I had a pretty big hit in the first quarter, though I couldn’t feel my arm for about 10 minutes,” George said about the moment. “Aside from that, I felt really good out here playing again, playing with some friends, playing with some rivals and it was a great experience overall.”
After forcing a punt back from Gold, Black got its first score of the night after Sullivan’s William Newby used some of his All-State track speed to torch the Gold defense on a 68-yard zone run to the left for the first touchdown of the game and a 6-0 lead.
Following a few punts, Black threatened to score on a short field after a fourth-down conversion but Northview quarterback Dillon White was intercepted by Owen Valley’s Gavin Stephens.
Gold punted again soon thereafter, leaving Black just 21 yards to drive and a few plays later, Indian Creek’s Aidan Neathery ran off the left side of the line for a seven-yard score, then threw a pass to Terre Haute North’s Sammy Saunders for the conversion and a 14-0 lead.
George would break up a pass on the next Gold drive while Goodpaster had a quarterback pressure and was first to make contact on a loss but Casey-Westfield quarterback Aden Brenton was able to hook up twice with Parke Heritage receiver Noble Johnson, the second a 15-yard fade to the right corner of the endzone to cut the deficit to 14-6.
Facing 3rd-and-16 on the next drive, White was able to scramble towards a first down, though the quarterback dropped the ball, only for Black to recover.
The run led to a pair of first downs and later to White hitting fellow Knight Braxton Sampson on a crossing route for a 13-yard score in the final minute of the first half with White adding the conversion with a pass to Mattoon’s Derrius White, giving the Black team a 22-6 lead at the break.
“It went great,” Hernandez said about the first half, despite only being involved in a few possessions. “I personally enjoyed watching my teammates compete and fly around on defense.
“When I wasn’t in the game, it was still fun to be a part of and to watch my teammates play.”
Black extended the lead in the second half after holding Gold to a three-and-out to start, once again getting a pair of big conversions to help out.
The first came on 3rd-and-20 where Red Hill’s Ben Stimler hit Sampson for a 52-yard gain, followed by a White pass to Olney-Richland County’s Braden Burgener for 28 yards on 4th-and-10.
Eventually Northview’s Donavin Cherry plowed in from six yards out up the gut for the score, followed by a holding call on the first conversion before Neathery found Northview’s Vinny Bonomo on a tip drill for the conversion and a 30-6 lead.
Goodpaster was in on an early tackle but Gold was finally able to build up a head of steam, eventually getting a one-yard run from Lawrenceville’s Brenyn Winniingham to cut into the deficit a bit a 30-12.
“It was a lot of fun,” Goodpaster said about getting involved on defense. “There’s a lot of talent here, so to play with that much talent and meet new guys from other schools was cool.”
Black’s big play ability was too much for Gold to overcome as Northview’s White hit Mattoon’s White on a 25-yard pass play before Bonomo scooted for 26 yards on a run.
Gold finally had an answer once Black was in goal-to-go range with a sack of White by Owen Valley’s Jerry McBee, eventually forcing a 4th-and-Goal from the 14-yard line.
Black was short on the play but a penalty was called for holding, one which Gold accepted, setting up Black with 4th-and-Goal from the 32-yard line rather than Gold taking over at the three-yard line.
What followed was the knockout blow as White tossed a screen pass to Newby, who followed his blockers up the left sideline before shifting into the middle of the field and winning the race to the goal line between two Gold defenders for the game’s final score.
Black eventually got the ball back and moved back into the red zone but, rather than force a final score in, allowed the game clock to expire with a 36-12 win.
For all four players, Saturday was their final football game and, despite the moment sinking in, all were grateful for the time they spent on the gridiron throughout the years.
“This is the last game and it’s kind of hitting hard,” Hernandez said. “Football has taught me a lot about myself and helped me grow.
“It’s taught me to never quit and to always trust your teammates.”
“Football made me the man I am today,” George said. “It’s taught me many life lessons though the coaches that I’ve had, including Kelly Lewis and Mike Meyer.
“It’s been a great experience to play football, and I wish I could go back and start all over again.”
“Football is the best thing ever to me,” Pelfrey said. “It’s taught me a lot of lessons and is a great sport.”
“It’s been a lot of fun and it went by quick,” Goodpaster said. “Football has always been my sport and come my senior year, I fully committed to football, not playing other sports.
“It’s been a lot of fun. The gave has given a lot to me.”