Lezzer North team sends Clarion’s Larry Wiser out a winner (gallery)

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Billy Splain | June 7, 2021

Larry Wiser with his son, members of his staff and Central Clarion players after the win

When Larry Wiser retired as head coach of now Central Clarion with a record of 238-103-1, it ended with a playoff loss. Last night at Tyrones Gray Veterans Memorial Stadium he got the chance to go out a winner. “It couldn’t have been written any better as a Hollywood script” said now fully retired former Clarion head coach Larry Wiser. “Down by 16 points at the end of the first half, that second half the kids played hard. We get that long touchdown run and the big comeback. It was just special. I got to have my coaching staff and a bunch of players from our Clarion team. I don’t know how many coaches get to end their careers with a win like this. It means a heck of a lot to me.” The North team scored three times in the second half to complete the comeback with a 26-22 win.

On their first possession of the second half, the North closed a 16 point deficit to 10 when State College’s Nehemiah Howell busted lose for a 50 yard score. The point after failed but the comeback was on. “It felt good. I really felt like giving up at halftime being down like that but that run gave me some confidence” said Howell. Because of a rule for the Lezzer Lumber classic that gives a team down 9 points, the South kicked to the North after the kick but that drive ended after three plays. But during the North drive, the South defense forced a fumble and the South capitalized when Glendale’s Garret Misiura and Baine Seilhamer hooked up for a 9 yard td pass to pull the team within four with 4:43 left in the third.

Garrett Misuira to Seilhammer for the @GlendaleVkingFB connection. South leads 22-18. 4:43 to play in the third pic.twitter.com/Ec753dGL8s

— Pa Football News (@PaFootballNews) June 7, 2021

“It doesn’t get better than that. Two quarterbacks, Calvin German and Garret, we built a chemistry all week at practice and it showed up tonight” said the St. Vincent bound Seilhamer. The comeback win was completed on the next North drive. German drove the North team 65 yards, running for 18 yards and connecting with Brookvilles Robert Keth from 8 yards out to take the lead. Another rule gave the North two points when Clarion’s Beau Verdill had to kick the extra point from 15 yards out to make it a 26-22 North lead.

28 yard td from German to Robert Keth. The kick is good and North takes a 25-22 lead to end the third #lezzerlumberclassic pic.twitter.com/vrDGwWiVm7

— Pa Football News (@PaFootballNews) June 7, 2021

Bloomsburg University bound and former Juniata Valley wide receiver Gabe Brower got things rolling for the North with a 29 yard td reception from Hollidaysburg’s Bryce Martellacci for the first points of the game. He then hauled in another from Claysburg-Kimmells Corey Chamberlain to put the North up 14-6 after Bellwood-Antis running back Zach Mallon hauled in the two pointer. “We had a pretty good first half. It was just good to see some good talent, play against them and get ready for college football” said Brower of his first half performance.

10 yard td catch for Brower. 2 pointer is good. 14-6 South. 6:39 second pic.twitter.com/VY1ieveWVu

— Pa Football News (@PaFootballNews) June 6, 2021

In between the two Brower scores, Seilhamer hauled in his first td pass of the night pulling down an 11 yard td from German. Chamberlain and Tyrone’s Tommy Hicks closed out the first quarter scoring with a 17 yard td pitch and catch. Brower and Seilhamer were named offensive players of the game for their team. Defensively Kyle Murray from Altoona and Nick Domico from Clearfield took top honors.