SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — All-star games are more about a fun time than about winning. Yet there is always a competitive nature to them.

Such was the case Wednesday evening at Rotary Field in the annual Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game, sponsored by Coordinated Health.

The North got on the board first, but the South scored 25 straight points to take control of the game and win 25-14.

The North rode the quick, elusive footwork of Chris Whiteman on its opening drive. The Lehighton quarterback blazed 51 yards down the sideline for the score. Tamaqua’s Nick Breiner ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Whiteman opened the game throwing a pass to fleet-footed Jim Thorpe receiver Nate Rosahac that seemed like a 30-yard completion to the 10. However, North was plagued by penalties all evening (8 for 90 yards) and had the play called back. But Whiteman then used his speed to get his team into the end zone.

“This was a fun game for the kids and the coaches,” said North leader and departing Panther Valley head coach Scott Price. “Sure you want to win it. It did get a little chippy at times, but we wanted to make sure that all the players got time (to play).”

The North’s lead faded before the first half concluded.

Riding the one-two punch of running backs Ben Kramer (Blue Mountain) and Isaac Lucas (Tri-Valley), along with an occasional pass by quarterback Daulton Leedy (Tri-Valley), the South regrouped to score the next four touchdowns.

After Whiteman’s six, the South answered on a 47-yard scoring strike from Leedy to Minersville’s Bryce Ellinger to make it 8-6 after a failed two-point conversion run.

The South came right back on its next possession to seize a 12-8 lead. Kramer lugged the ball most of the way en route to capping the 69-yard drive when he finished off the final 11 yards of the drive for the first lead of the game.

“I just wanted to play as hard as I can,” said Kramer, who was voted his team’s MVP and finished with 63 yards rushing.

Kramer scored his second touchdown early in the third quarter, this one on a 1-yard run.

The South made it 25-8 on a Lucas 43-yard run and extra-point kick by Nate Nabholtz (Blue Mountain).

The North capped the scoring with 5:58 to play when Tamaqua’s Breiner hit the end zone on a 1-yard run.

Jim Thorpe’s standout two-way performer Ethan Mordaunt was voted MVP by the media. Mordaunt was active throughout the evening at the home of the Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes. The South had problems trying to block the defensive lineman.

“I’m flattered for the award,” he said. “This was my final high school game. I wanted to make it a good one.

“I’ll wrestle in college, and this was a fun time for me and my teammates. Wish we could have won the game.”

LOCAL FLAVOR … A total of 27 players from the Times News coverage area were selected for the game. Jim Thorpe led the contingent with eight players including Mordaunt, Rosahac, Dylan Dailey, Nick Trovarello, William Munson, Austin Williams, Colin Jacobs and Jarrin Geisinger. Marian sent Chris Hoover, Dylan Seibert, Adam Gilbert, Zach Boyer, Matt Doherty, Jake McLaughlin and Keith McCall. Representing Tamaqua were Breiner, Pat Burns, John Franco and Matt Amodea. From Lehighton were Whiteman, Dakota Hiester, Shawn Truhe, Shane Williams and Zack Crum. From Panther Valley, Carter Brettle, Sam Janner, Cody Collevechio and Chris Hoover were named to the team.

STANDOUT PLAYS … Mordaunt had one of the best highlight plays of the night when he leaped over a lineman to record a sack on quarterback Reedy, ala Lavar Arrington at Penn State.

GOING, GOING, GONE … Price will be moving on from the region. The second-year coach at Panther Valley is leaving due to his career and is headed for Ohio.

LEADERS OF THE PACK … Lucas had 78 yards rushing for game-high honors. Whiteman led the North with 77. Brandon Rockwell (North Schuylkill) was next at 74 yards and Breiner added 42. Geisinger had three catches (all from Whiteman) for 72 yards.

CAPTAINS ... Before the kickoff was booted, honorary captains took center stage at midfield during the flip of the coin — Panther Valley’s Sam Janner and Pine Grove’s John Lehman.