Schuylkill Haven head coach Mike Farr, president of the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association, center, presents post-game trophies to the MVPs of Wednesday's senior all-star game at Rotary Field. From left: Tri-Valley's Ryan Colahan (Small School lineman), Shenandoah Valley's Tristan Karosas (Small School MVP), Farr, North Schuylkill's Sander Stokes (Big School lineman) and Blue Mountain's Gaige Guers (Big School MVP) (Photo by Leroy Boyer).

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — A change in format produced the biggest blowout in Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association all-star game history.

But it didn’t deter from the enthusiasm, energy and fun the players and coaches involved in the game had on the field.

Seven different players scored touchdowns as the Big School stars routed the Small School stars 52-0 in the annual SCFCA Senior All-Star Game sponsored by Lehigh Valley Health Network held Wednesday night at Rotary Field.

It was the first year the SCFCA utilized a Big School vs. Small School format after using a North vs. South setup since its inception in the 1980s.

It was the most points scored in an all-star game since the South beat the North 44-15 on June 12, 2010. It easily surpassed the biggest margin of victory — 35 — which was accomplished twice.

Senior players from Blue Mountain, North Schuylkill, Panther Valley, Pine Grove, Pottsville and Tamaqua competed on the Big School team. Players from Mahanoy Area, Marian, Minersville, Nativity, Schuylkill Haven, Shenandoah Valley, Tri-Valley and Williams Valley represented the Small Schools.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Big School head coach Mike Brennan of Pottsville, who was a head coach in the county all-star game for the first time. “It’s a great time learning, meeting the other kids from different programs. You realize just how talented some of the kids are that you see on film but you don’t get to meet.

“This experience here, being home with the local kids from Schuylkill County, was a lot of fun.”

While the score may have been lopsided, the excitement on the field wasn’t.

The pre-game coin flip was done with a football dropped from a helicopter provided by Bill’s Produce of Schuylkill Haven, with Blue Mountain’s Gaige Guers outdueling Schuylkill Haven’s Leyden Hertz for the loose pigskin.

The game featured the usual banter back and forth between players and had several end-zone celebrations. Dance routines, a game of Duck, Duck, Goose and a bowling scene with players as pins were among the celebrations.

A cheer squad represented both teams, with each squad performing a musical routine at halftime.

“It’s a great time,” said Guers, who was named the Big School MVP. “The practices … the first one is a little awkward. But once everybody gets rolling … once it became game time, everybody just synced in. It’s like a second family of your high school career.

“It was a great time. I loved everybody on the team. It was a great experience to have. Everybody from rival schools on one team, collaborating and working so well together.”

The Big Schools scored on their second possession midway through the first quarter when North Schuylkill’s Kolton Joyce raced in from 22 yards out. Early in the second quarter Guers made it 14-0 when he returned a Hunter Correll punt 65 yards for a score, picking up the ball late and scampering down the sideline for the score.

“The ball was rolling, I saw a seam and I picked it up and I knew I could take it,” Guers said. “I had great blocks by my linemen and my other skilled guys, Cole Swick, (Sander Stokes) from North Schuylkill, Tahlil (Flucker-White of Pottsville) had a big block. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

An interception by Pine Grove’s Brayden Lyons on the Small Schools’ next possession led to a 2-yard TD run by Tamaqua’s Tyler Koch. A 30-yard field goal on the final play of the first half by North Schuylkill’s Gavin Mentzer gave the Big School stars a 24-0 halftime lead.

The Big Schools broke the game open in the third quarter with three touchdowns in a 2-minute span. A 26-yard pass from Tamaqua’s Luke Kane to Pottsville’s Tsirell Curry made it 31-0. The Small Schools fumbled the kickoff, with Blue Mountain’s Bradley Renninger recovering. North Schuylkill’s Michael Mogish scored on the next play on a 14-yard run.

The Small Schools then fumbled on their next play, with Blue Mountain’s Cole Swick recovering. One play later, Pottsville’s Evan Galavage raced 22 yards for a touchdown to make it 45-0.

Blue Mountain’s Tyler Stahley set the final margin with a 2-yard TD on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Joyce rushed for 65 yards and Stahley gained 33 for the Big Schools, who compiled 232 total yards. The Small Schools were held to just 54 total yards, with four of their seven first downs coming by penalty.

North Schuylkill’s Sander Stokes was named the top Big School lineman. Shenandoah Valley’s Tristan Karosas was selected the Small School MVP with Tri-Valley’s Ryan Colahan earning top Small School lineman honors.

Schuylkill Haven’s Allie Benulis sang the National Anthem. The officiating crew consisted of Joe Gerchak, Jim Misstishin, Shane Leedy, Dan Doyle, Brynn Dragna, Jerry Misstishin and Chris Robison.

Game Summary

SCFCA Senior All-Star Game

At Rotary Field

Big Schools 52, Small Schools 0 

Big Schools                7          17        21        7  —    52

Small Schools             0          0          0          0  —    0

BS — Joyce 22 run (Mentzer kick)

BS — Guers 65 punt return (Mentzer kick)

BS — Koch 2 run (Mentzer kick)

BS — FG Mentzer 30

BS — Curry 26 pass from Kane (Mentzer kick)

BS — Mogish 14 run (Mentzer kick)

BS — Galavage 22 run (Mentzer kick)

BS — Stahley 2 run (Mentzer kick)

Team Statistics

                                          BS               SS

First Downs                      13                7

Rushes-Yards                    23-165        19-23

Passes                                5-10-0         5-23-1

Passing Yards                   67                31

Total Yards                       232              54

Fumbles/Lost                    1-1              4-2

Penalties                            6-55            1-5

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Big Schools — Joyce 5-65, Stahley 5-33, Galavage 2-25, Koch 3-14, Mogish 1-14, Schlosser 1-12, Lauta 2-2, Kane 4-0. Small Schools — Schultz 5-12, Walborn 3-8, Kreitzer 2-7, Terry 3-5, Karosas 1-0, Chase Hower 1-0, Charlie Hower 2-(-2), Schwartz 1-(-7).

PASSING: Big Schools —- Kane 5-10-0, 67. Small Schools —- Schwartz 2-11-1, 8; Kreitzer 2-4-0, 6; Karosas 1-4-0, 17; Fasnacht 0-4-0, 0.

RECEIVING: Big Schools — Curry 3-54, Guers 1-14, Schlosser 1-(-1). Small Schools —- Hutsko 2-21, Johnson 2-8, Hertz 1-2.

INTERCEPTIONS: Big School — Lyons.