WALTHAM — The North team fell to the South, 27-6, before a packed crowd at Bentley University in the 36th annual Shriners Football Classic.
It's something Andrew Lebowitz (Andover), Zak Adamopoulos (Central Catholic), Justin Marsan (Methuen), Matt Fiore (Pentucket), Joe Napolitano (Brooks) and Joe Esposito (Georgetown) aren't likely to soon forget.
"I had a good time with it even though it didn't go our way," said Lebowitz. "You win some, you lose some."
"It was a pretty even game; the South just had a couple more big plays," said Adamopoulos, who missed the game due to a minor knee injury sustained during Shriners practice last week.
He was joined on the sidelines by Esposito (recovering from wrist surgery).
The big plays to which Adamopoulos referred were a 16-yard scoring run courtesy of Dorchester's De'Jon Berment in the first quarter and a 49-yard pass from Framingham's Danny Guadagnoli to Dartmouth's Justin Mello in the second.
"Everything's a little bit faster," said Marsan, who stood out with a four solo tackles, a fumble recovery, and a pass deflection on South's first play of the game. "It took us a while to get used to it."
Trailing 6-0 with under two minutes to go in the second quarter, Salem's Melikke VanAlstyne exploded through the line for a crowd-pleasing 49-yard run to tie the game.
"Everyone just did their assignments - just a nice kick-out block by old Lebowitz, and (VanAlstyne) found the hole," Lebowitz joked.
The South scored 21 unanswered points to win the game in convincing fashion.
Over the last few weeks, old rivalries have become ancient history.
"I never thought I'd be cheering a guy from Andover's name, or rooting for the kids from Lowell and Methuen," Adamopoulos said. "Everyone just came together in such a short amount of time.
"Playing with Methuen and Andover kids... them and Central just don't get along. It was a real good time."
Marsan, who was ejected along with a South player with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter after a shoving match occurred, was one of five North captains.
"All the MVC guys, you know, we stick together," said Marsan. "We were out there trying to make a name for ourselves and show how good we really are, what a good conference we play in."
South 27, North 6
31st Annual Shriners Football Classic
Scoring by quarter:
North¬ 0 ¬ 6 ¬ 0 ¬ 0 - 6
South 6 ¬ 14 ¬ 7 ¬ 0 - 27
First quarter
South: De'Jon Berment (Dorchester) 16 run (kick fail), 5:50
Second quarter
North: Melikke VanAlstyne (Salem) 45 run (kick fail), 10:09
South: Justin Mello (Dartmouth) 49 pass from Danny Guadagnoli (Framingham) (Conor Henry of Coyle-Cassidy kick), 5:50
South: Brian Desmond (Norton) 4 pass from Sean Sylvia (Dartmouth) (Henry kick), 2:09
Third quarter
South: Evan Taylor (Stoughton) 2 pass from Sylvia (Henry kick), 2:03
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