Kasey Yoder Leads North Star in Win Over West Branch

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Phil Myers | August 29, 2026

It was the Kasey Yoder show last night at West Branch’s L.T. Drivas Memorial Field.  Mr. Yoder, a three year starter at quarterback for the Cougars, pitched the pigskin for 5 TDs and used his legs for another two scores to account for all seven of North Star’s touchdowns.  The final score was North Star 48 and West Branch 14.  When asked if he’s ever had a game like that before, Yoder said, “I can’t say that I have, but that was a team effort.”  It was a team effort for sure and North Star looked very good.

Star of game, Kasey Yoder.

The game was tied 7-7 after the first quarter without West Branch running one offensive play.  North Star received the kickoff and drove 73 yards, scoring when Yoder connected with Max Pristas for a 24-yard touchdown pass.  That drive ate up over seven minutes on the clock.  The Warriors countered by returning the kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown.  Frankie Leskovansky did the honors taking the rock to the house.  Then the Cougars ate up the balance of the first quarter clock on their second drive of the game.

The second quarter belonged to the visitors from Boswell and it was the difference in the game.  North Star scored five unanswered touchdowns in stanza number two to pull away and cause the running clock Mercy Rule to go into effect in the second half.  All six first half drives ended in touchdowns for the Cougars.  Yoder found Pristas again to put North Star up for good, then he hit Ace Kolson for an 8-yard score, and followed that with a 59-yard bomb to Will Eshleman.  The lead swelled to 42-7 when Yoder ran for a pair of TDs in the last 64 seconds of the opening half.

Ace Kolson with the touchdown reception.

North Star’s first year head coach Shane Smith said, “Great effort.  Great team effort.  I couldn’t be more proud.  I thought the guys up front played really well.  Obviously, Kasey played well, but I wouldn’t expect anything else.  They had problems with our size, especially early in the game and they never recovered.” 

Kasey Yoder (#1) in middle of picture running with ball. team mate Max Pristas is #10 in white. West Branch player #2 is Hansen Lannen.

Nobody scored in the third quarter.  West Branch tallied a score in the final quarter when QB Connor Danko found Brayden Williamson for a 35-yard touchdown.  North Star rounded out the scoring when Yoder threw his fifth touchdown pass, this time to John-Michael Steltzer. 

Next week North Star will play host to Curwensville and West Branch travels to Berlin-Brothersvalley.

Other Notes: West Branch unveiled their new press box named after Gary Hubler, a former player and head coach, who passed away in May. This game marked Kenn Vandevander’s debut as head coach of the West Branch Warriors.  He had spent 21 years as an assistant in Tyrone.  In fact, retired Tyrone coach, John Franco, was in attendance at the game.  The West Branch Marching Band of over 40 members playing instruments is one of the largest 1A bands that this reporter has seen in a long, long time.  Congrats to their music program and their show was terrific.

North Star’s Kasey Yoder had a couple other thoughts.  When asked about the importance of getting that opening game win he stated, “Very important, I mean new coaching staff, (we) come out with a bang.  (We) just got things rolling.”  When asked about goals for the season, he simply said, “Win some football games.”