North Squad Takes 20th Annual Tri-County All Star Game

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Pat Weider | June 1, 2022

North squad with a 27-17 win over the South team

On a hot muggy night at Elden Rettew Stadium in Manheim, the 20th Tri-County all-star game was played last night. The North prevailed with a 27-17 win. Led by North squad MVP Cam Harbaugh of Hempfield the North was able to pull away with 20 points in the second half and claim victory. Harbaugh on the game “We started out slow, but we responded in the 2nd half when we needed to”. Ephrata Head Coach was the Head Coach for the North squad said this after the game “Awesome game and a lot of fun”. 

Cam Harbaugh opened the scoring for the North squad with a 6-yard rushing touchdown in the 1st Quarter. Harbaugh on running the ball from his QB position “I like running the ball. It shows I am a versatile player”.  Walker Martin of Garden Spot then kicked a 32-yard field goal for the South team in the 2nd Quarter. At the end of the half the score was North 7-South 3. 

In the second half both teams were able to move the ball very well. Both teams had several great plays in the second half. Anthony Bourassa of Cocalico opened the scoring for the South with a 34 yard touchdown run to take a brief lead of 10-7. The North responded though when Harbaugh ran it in from 3 yard outs on a nifty bootleg play. North led 14-10. 

To set up the touchdown play the North did a trick play. Patrick Gilhool of Elizabethtown took a reverse and threw a perfectly timed ball down the sideline to Harbaugh who made a great catch and broke several tackles. Harbaugh on the trick play “We knew we were going to call it because we talked about it at half time”. 

Ephrata players Cole Sieger, Deric Hoover, and Elijah Knowles take a picture with the Ephrata Coaches

Later in the game with the North clinging to a 20-17 lead and facing a 4th in 10 from the South 40 yard line with 1:40 left in the game Coach Miller and the North squad had to make a decision. Miller called time out and gave his Harbaugh the option of calling the designed pass play or to quick kick it if he didn’t like the match up. Harbaugh rolled to the right and hit Tony Cruz of Lancaster Catholic with perfectly placed pass down to the 6th yard line. Harbaugh on the play call “Coach Miller gave me the option to pass the ball or quick kick it. So we ran the play  and we picked it up”. Coach Miller on his Quarterback and the key 4th down play “He is a phenomenal kid. He did everything we asked. In the 4th down we asked him if he wanted to go for it and he made a great decision”. Richie Kowalski of Palmyra then scored from 6 yards out to ice the victory for the North team.

In a typical fashion the Manheim Touchdown club ran a great event. It was postponed from last Friday because of rain, but today’s game was a great show case for these high school seniors for the last time.  Coach Miller “Great experience. Touchdown club is 2nd to none. I told the guys this is the last high school football experience and we were able to go out with a victory. Manheim Touchdown club makes everything so easy”. 

Hempfield players Eli Hinton, Cam Harbaugh, Adam Acker, and Kaleb Elslager with a picture 

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