The last thing Orangeburg Prep senior Zack Huggins expected back in August was concluding his prep career Saturday in the SCISAA North-South All-Star Game.

With two interceptions to help the North earn a 16-7 victory over the South on Indian Field, Huggins could not have found a better way to conclude the senior campaign for himself and fellow Indian All-Stars Mitchell Phillips, Ben Ford and Travis Tourville.

"This was fun. I had a blast," he said. "It's a great way to end the year."

Huggins' picks were part of a strong defensive effort by the North after falling behind 7-0 early in the second quarter. With teammates like Phillips, Calhoun Academy's Wesley McKeowen, Pinewood Prep's Ryan Templeton and Bradley Morgan and Porter-Gaud's Rozier Blanchard providing constant pressure up front, the North forced four turnovers in holding the South scoreless in the second half.

With the score tied 7-7 at halftime, the combination of Dillon Christian School quarterback Art Jordan and Northwood Academy wide receiver Matt Rose put the North ahead for good. Following a fumble recovery by Morgan, Rose managed to get behind Dorchester Academy's Cody Walters and caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jordan with 7:37 remaining in the third quarter.

The duo hooked up again in the fourth quarter for a 65-yard pass play to set up Tourville's 21-yard field goal with 12:41 remaining to close out the scoring.

"We didn't have a hard job," said North head coach Ken Kellahan of Laurence Manning Academy when asked about getting the players from different teams to compete on one accord. "It's a tribute to the kids and the good coaching they've received at their schools."

The South opened the scoring with the help of three of its six players from SCISAA Class A champion Dorchester Academy. Facing a fourth down at the North 35, quarterback McKinley Stephens rolled out of the pocket and lofted a pass caught between two defenders by fellow Raider wide receiver John Wildes, who scampered into the end zone for the touchdown.

Dorchester Academy's Taylor Rizzo then capped the scoring drive with the extra point with 12:43 remaining in the second quarter.

The North quickly answered with a six-play, 65-yard scoring drive highlighted by a "Hook and Ladder" play in which Porter-Gaud's J.C. Darby caught the football downfield and made the pitch to ongoing running back Robert Evans of Carolina Academy, who was knocked out of bounds at the 5-yard-line.

Porter-Gaud's Richard Hutson, who earlier in the game had a fumble after a long reception and muffed a punt, redeemed himself with a two-yard touchdown run that tied the game after Tourville's PAT.

The South's next series ended abruptly after Huggins picked off W.W. King quarterback Jarrod Frick. Just as quickly, however, the South regained possession after Hilton Head Christian's Maurice Taylor's interception.

Late in the second quarter, Dorchester Academy's Chase Lawley sacked the North's Jordan to force a turnover on downs. The South would not capitalize as Huggins made his second interception with 6.9 seconds left to keep the score deadlocked at halftime.

"He had a tremendous game and I was glad to have him and his head coach (David Smith) on the sidelines," Kellahan said.

The North also emerged victorious in the SCISAA Eight-Man All-Star Game played simultaneously at Clarendon Hall. Headed by Bowman Academy's Curt Ott, the North rallied from a 13-0 first-quarter deficit to defeat the South 38-25, coached by the Saints' Sean Thacker.

A total of seven players from Bowman Academy (Bo Jones, Jason Gehrey, Michael Tindell and Travis Staley) and Holly Hill Academy (Ben Watkins, Shane Bellinger and Dean Hutto) played for the North team, The South had a combined 12 players from Andrew Jackson Academy (Jeremy Jones, Miles Murdaugh and William Varn, whose head coach Greg Langdale served as an assistant), Clarendon Hall (Wesley Ardis, Daniel Dew and Hunter Brinson) and Jefferson Davis Academy (Korey Adams, Andrew Hallman, Jesse Thornton, Taylor Murphy, Ronnie Rozier and Shank Collins).

T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547. Discuss this and other stories online at TheT&D.com.

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