Andrews put together one of the most dominant performances in District 4 North-South All-Star Game history Friday night at Central Columbia. The two-time all-state selection earned game MVP honors, catching seven passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half, as the North routed the South, 30-3.

Loyalsock teammate Tyler Gee was the North Offensive MVP, finding Andrews time after time while completing 10 of 13 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Jersey Shore graduate Tate Sechrist was the Defensive MVP and led a stout unit which allowed just 77 yards as the North dominated all facets in a game called after one play in the fourth quarter due to lightning.

The South team felt like lightning struck all evening, but it came in the form of the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Andrews who rewrote the area record book the past two years, breaking single-season yardage records twice as well as the career yardage record.

“After so many years of doing that in the summers and then during the season with Tyler, you come into an all-star game continuing to do it,” Andrews said. “It kind of comes easy to us now. It’s a great way to showcase that.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest Area’s Adam Chonko intercepts a pass intended for Montoursville’s Nate Fisher (41) during a PIAA District 4 All-Star football game at Central Columbia High School on Friday, June 21, 2024.

South Williamsport graduate Ryan Casella also shined, running for 126 yards and a touchdown, while Montoursville’s Nate Fisher closed the game with a spectacular 41-yard run. An offensive line anchored by Jersey Shore and South Williamsport players helped the North pile up 368 yards and build a 23-3 halftime lead.

Still, it was the player who originally doubted he would suit up who made the biggest difference. Andrews was hesitant to play before Gee recently talked him into it. What a wise decision it became. The East Stroudsburg-bound receiver scored the game’s first three touchdowns, hauling in Gee scoring strikes of 16, 33 and 45 yards in the opening 18 minutes.

“He can’t stay away from the lights,” Gee said. “When it’s a Friday night and it’s a big game he has to show up.”

Andrews immediately did so, taking the game’s opening kickoff back 35 yards before catching a 16-yard touchdown in the right corner on a 3rd-and-9 eight plays later. On the ensuing series, Andrews wowed his teammates, opponents and fans when he fought through two defenders and caught a perfectly placed 35-yard touchdown from Gee which made it 14-0. At that point, he already had 97 yards.

A play after the South snapped the ball out of the end zone for a safety, Andrews struck again. Despite good coverage, Andrews gained a step, Gee hit him in stride and Andrews broke away for a 45-yard score, putting the North up, 23-3.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock’s Tyler Gee (3) looks for an open receiver during a PIAA District 4 All-Star football game at Central Columbia High School on Friday, June 21, 2024.

“It was a new week with new players,” Gee said. “But having that comfort with someone you’ve played so much with is huge.”

Opponents often double-teamed Andrews last fall but he still caught a district-high 73 passes for an area record 1,465 yards and 13 touchdowns. So, just imagine how excited Andrews and Gee were when they learned that neither double teams, nor zone coverage is allowed at this all-star game.

It was like Christmas morning for Andrews and he repeatedly grabbed all the goodies, no matter who defended him.

“When they read the rules to us, I felt like this game was made for me. One-on-one is what I’m best at,” Andrews said. “The coaches did a good job getting me the ball and my teammates helped on every play.”

They sure did.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport’s Devon Harris (22) picks up yardage for North during a PIAA District 4 All-Star football game at Central Columbia High School on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Linemen throughout the area overpowered the South up front and the North moved the ball at will, scoring touchdowns on three of their first four possessions and reaching the South 35-yard line the lone time it did not score. Casella frequently ran over defenders as he did during South Williamsport’s run to the state Final 4 last fall. The combination of power running, and text-book blocking produced 7.7 yards per carry while keeping the defense guessing.

Fisher displayed his quick-strike ability on the game’s final play, seemingly producing the lightning which followed, breaking free down the sideline, carrying a defender and barreling to the 7-yard line. It seemed a fitting way for the North to cap a dominant performance.

As explosive as the offense was, the defense was equally stingy. Williamsport linebacker Alonzo Rice moved to cornerback and broke up two potential touchdown passes. Sechrist produced a sack and nearly had a second one, while Jersey Shore teammate Peyton Samar led the team in tackles and South Williamsport linebacker Garrett Cooley made a fantastic tackle, stoning the ball carrier on a 4th-and-1 play early in the third quarter for a two-yard loss.

As much fun as the North had winning, though, it may have had more fun simply being around each other. Former rivals became friends and played as a unit, resembling a team which had been playing together the past four years. That was obvious as they happily raised the Max Dell championship trophy inside the Central Columbia gym afterward.

“Over the past week at all the practices, I found it very easy for everyone to come in and form a brotherhood,” Rice said. “Everyone came together strong. Everyone knew we were having fun, but everybody was on the same page. It was really a blast. I’m glad I played.”

“It’s been a great experience playing with all these guys from the area,” Andrews said. “We all came together as one and got a win.”

While the South did not win, those players also quickly jelled and enjoyed their final high school games. Area players made some impressive marks there as well. Hughesville’s Aiden Barlett dazzled, eluding several would-be tacklers on an electrifying 68-yard kickoff return which led to a 43-yard Carter Young field goal.

Barlett also hauled in a 20-yard pass, making a tremendous diving catch which moved the ball inside the red zone late in the first half. Warrior Run quarterback Ryan Newton completed his first four passes and led the South in passing, while his teammate Carter Marr added a sack and a forced fumble.

Obviously, both teams wanted to win Friday’s game, but what so many players who previously played in a game which Dell helped keep running for decades enjoy the most is coming together. Old tensions melt away, new friends are made, and strong bonds are formed.

In that way, both the North and South felt pretty good following the latest all-star game.

“It was a good cap to a high school career. I was looking forward to this one more than the East-West Game because these are guys that are closer to home,” Gee said. “I see a lot of those names on posts and on Twitter, but I never got to play with them. I never saw them behind their helmets and it was just a lot of fun. I made a lot of friends in just a week.”

North 30, South 3

North 14 9 7 0–30

South 0 3 0 0–3

First Quarter

N–Jaylen Andrews 16 pass from Tyler Gee (Connor Poole kick), 7:10

N–Andrews 33 pass from Gee (Poole kick), :11

Second Quarter

S–Carter Young 43-yard field goal, 9:32

N–Safety, ball snapped out of end zone, 6:41

N–Andrews 45 pass from Gee (Poole kick), 6:24

Third Quarter

N–Ryan Casella 45 run (Poole kick), 4:03

TEAM STATISTICS N S

First Downs 15 5

Rushes-yards 25-185 10-(-6)

Passing yards 183 83

Comp-Att-Int 10-13-1 7-18-0

Total yards 368 77

Fumbles-lost 4-0 2-0

Penalties-yards 5-45 2-10

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: North, Ryan Casella 13-126, TD; Nate Fisher 1-41; Tate Sechrist 5-22; Devon Harris 1-(-2); Tyler Gee 5-(-3). South, Mark Pastore 3-7; Nick Stevens 1-2; Nolan Baumert 1-(-2); Team 1-(-6); Ryan Newton 4-(-7).

PASSING: North, Gee 10-13-0, 183 yards, 3 TD. South, Newton 4-6-0, 46 yards; Pastore 1-5-0, 20 yards; Blake Wise 2-7-0, 17 yards.

RECEIVING: North, Jaylen Andrews 7-152, 3 TD; Hayes Campbell 1-18; Casella 1-12; Harris 1-1. South, Jacob Hoy 3-35; Eli Book 2-24; Aiden Barlett 1-20; Charles Landis 1-4.

INTERCEPTIONS: South, Adam Chonko.

SACKS: North, Sechrist. South, Carter Marr.