2024 BERNARD BLACKWELL CLASSIC NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME SUMMARY
The North ended a South four-game winning streak by defeating the South 16 to 13 in the 76th Annual Bernard Blackwell Football Classic on December 21, 2024, at Joseph Milner Stadium, Lindy Callahan Field in Gulfport. The North win sliced the South series lead to 37 wins, 30 losses, and 5 ties. In the first quarter, the North drove inside South territory, but a pass by John Austin Wood of Itawamba AHS was tipped and intercepted by Hattiesburg’s Demarcus Baker who returned the ball to the North 14-yard line. On fourth down, Pearl’s Colston Bennett attempted a 20-yard field goal, but the North blocked the kick and recovered the ball. The North, however, was penalized for a coach being on the field during the play and the South retained possession with a fresh set of downs at the 20-yard line. The South converted the opportunity as Kemper County’s Kendetryon Backstrom threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Darian Wells of Noxubee County. Colston Bennett kicked the extra point and the South led 7-0 at the 9:25 mark on the 1st quarter clock.
On the ensuing drive, the North went 15 plays and 63 yards to even the score at 7-7 following a 21-yard touchdown pass from Javaris Beamon to Marcus Christon, Jr., of South Panola and a PAT kick from Austin Taylor of Holly Springs with 2:48 left in the stanza. The North converted a fourth-and-four at the 43-yard line during the drive as QB Javaris Beamon of Cleveland Central hit QB John Austin Wood on a trick play. The South then regained the lead on a 4-play 81-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard scoring run by Kylin Champagne of Oak Grove with 1:38 left in the first quarter. The big play on the drive was a pass from Silas Corder of Pascagoula to Jaleil Cameron of Quitman deep in South territory. The extra point attempt by Colston Bennett of Pearl was no good and the South led 13 to 7.
In the second quarter, the North took the lead on a 7-play 62-yard drive as Tray Kinkle of Holly Springs scored on a 2-yard run. The extra point kick by Austin Taylor was good and the North led the game 14 to 13 with 8:37 left in the half. The key play for the North in the lead drive was a fake punt as West Point’s Marcus Makeba took a direct snap on a fourth-and-four to pick up the first down at their own 42-yard line. A fumbled punt return by the North gave the South another scoring chance near the end of the half, but a bad snap at the 28-yard line ended the threat and the North led at the half 14 to 13.
In the second half, the North had a scoring chance after Tray Kinkle picked up a first down on a fourth-and-2 at the South 39-yard line. Caleb Tillman of Terry intercepted a pass for the South to end the drive. The teams changed possessions entering the fourth quarter and North punter Landon Huber of Newton County pinned the South down to the 1-yard line. On the next play, with 7:43 to play in the game, the South was penalized for holding in the end zone and the North was awarded a safety to extend their lead to 16 to 13.
The South had several chances to regain the lead or tie the game, but the North defense rose to the occasion. An incomplete pass on fourth-and-9 at the South 35-yard line stopped one drive, but the South had one more shot with 2:35 to play as Hattiesburg’s Kaden Smith recovered a North fumble at the North 36-yard line. The North’s Ja’Cari Owens of Louisville, however, tackled Kylin Champagne for a loss behind the line and Myles Miller of Madison Central sacked Kendetryon Backstrom with 1:45 left in the game. A fourth down incomplete pass by the South with 1:36 sealed the win for the North.
The C-Spire Most Valuable Offensive Player for the North was wide received Marcus Christon, Jr., of South Panola who had 7 catches for 82 yards and 1 touchdown. The C-Spire North Most Valuable Defensive Player was Myles Miller of Madison Central who finished with 4 tackles, 2 QB sacks, and 3 tackles for loss. The C-Spire Most Valuable Offensive Player was Jaleil Cameron of Quitman who had 3 receptions for a game-high 116 yards. Kaden Smith of Hattiesburg was selected as the C-Spire Most Valuable Defensive Player for the South as he had 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and recovered a fumble to give the South one final opportunity to score.
The South Bill Stewart award winner was QB Kendetryon Backstrom who was 5-of-7 passing for 62 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Dy’Lan Robertson of Baldwyn was named the North Bill Stewart Award recipient. The C-Spire Academic Achievement award winners were North QB John Austin Wood of Itawamba AHS and South QB Silas Corder of Pascagoula. The MAC Fan’s Choice players added to the rosters for the first time in history by an internet fan vote was the North’s running back/defensive back DeCorey Knight, Jr., of Vicksburg and the South’s halfback/linebacker Devin Tribble of Heidelberg.
2023 BERNARD BLACKWELL CLASSIC NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME SUMMARY
2022 BERNARD BLACKWELL CLASSIC NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME SUMMARY
Defensive lineman/running back Zechariah Parodi of Scott Central scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 11 seconds remaining to lead the South to their third consecutive win over the North by a score of 14-10 in the 74th Annual Bernard Blackwell All-Star Football Classic on December 17, 2022, at Joseph Milner Stadium, Lindy Callahan Field in Gulfport. The win added to the South’s series lead at 36-29 with 5 ties. Parodi, at 5-11, 240, was converted to a running back at practice the day before the game and ran 9 times for 35 yards, threw a 1-yard touchdown pass, racked up 8 tackles and had 1 QB sack. For his efforts, he was named the C Spire Most Valuable Defensive Player for the South. The first quarter was a back-and-forth punting duel. In the second stanza, the South drove to the North 20-yard line, but a sack, a holding call, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed the South back past midfield. On the ensuing North possession, Ty Davis of Itawamba AHS threw an interception to the South’s Douglas Nelson of Hazlehurst that was returned 47 yards to the North’s 10-yard line. The South drove 10 yards on three plays and scored the game’s first touchdown as Parodi tossed a 1-yard TD pass to Zakari Tillman of Florence. Northwest Rankin kicker Christian Baglione booted the extra point and the South led 7-0 with 8:19 to play in the half. On the kickoff, the South tried an onsides kick and Meridian’s Demondra Scott recovered to give the South a quick scoring opportunity. Baglione missed a 40-yard field goal attempt as the South remained in control. A special teams miscue gave new life to the North with 37 seconds left in the half as a bad snap on a punt gave the North football possession at the South 5-yard line. North QB Davis threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Oxford’s Roman Gregory with 23 seconds left and Hernando’s Jackson Uselton converted the point after and the game was knotted 7-7 at the half. The South tried another onsides kick to start the second half, but the North recovered. The North then drove to the South 16-yard line and Jackson Uselton nailed a 23-yard field goal to give the North the lead at 10-7. In the fourth quarter, the North was attempting to drive to ice the game at the South 45-yard line with 4:03 left to play. Parodi made a key tackle in the backfield on fourth-and-one to turn the ball over on downs and give the South their last chance of the game. The South then drove 53 yards for the winning score. Parodi converted a fourth-and-one at the 12-yard line and then scored the winning TD with just 11 seconds remaining. Christian Baglione’s PAT gave the South the winning 14-10 margin. The C Spire Most Valuable Offensive Player for the South was Raleigh running back Javarious Walker who had a game-high 15 carries for 79 yards. The C Spire Most Valuable Defensive Player for the North was linebacker Tommy Kelly, Jr. of Provine who recorded 3 tackles. QB Ty Davis of Itawamba AHS was selected as the North’s C Spire Most Valuable Offensive Player as he connected on 4-of-11 passes for 6 yards 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and ran three times for 4 yards. The North Bill Stewart Award winner was receiver Anthony Little of Noxubee County who while the South Bill Stewart Award winner was defensive lineman Tucker Smith of Poplarville. The C Spire Academic Achievement Award winners were punter/kicker Jackson Uselton of Hernando for the North and offensive lineman Reid Grantham of Pearl for the
South.
2021 BERNARD BLACKWELL CLASSIC NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME SUMMARY
The South claimed their second straight win in the series using a ball-hawking defense that featured 4 interceptions and 6 QB sacks which held off a late North rally in a close 27-24 win in the 73rd Annual Bernard Blackwell All-Star Football Classic on December 18, 2021, at Joseph Milner Stadium, Lindy Callahan Field in Gulfport. The victory increased the South’s series lead to 35-29 with 5 ties in a game played in dense fog and rainy conditions. The South scored on the first play from scrimmage when John Ford of Sumrall hit Dee Burks of Scott Central on an 81-yard touchdown pass off a flea flicker play. The North countered with a 26-yard field goal from Jackson Cheek of Nettleton to close the gap to 7-3 in the first quarter. The South’s Nate Jones of Nettleton then booted a 44-yard field goal to increase the South lead to 10-3 in the second stanza. The South then widened the margin to 17 to 3 as Terrance Mack of Velma Jackson dashed three yards for a touchdown that was set up by an interception by D’Iberville’s Kam Williams. With 1:03 to play in the half, the North’s Eli Anderson of Neshoba Central connected with D’Anthony McGlothan of J. Z. George on a 51-yard touchdown strike to cut the South’s lead to 17-10 at the break. The South’s defense started the second half with a huge play as Poplarville’s Ahmad Harmon picked off an Anderson pass and raced 48 yards to the end zone to give the South a commanding 24-10 lead with 10:56 left in the third quarter. Nate Jones of Petal would add a 33-yard field goal with 9:40 to play in the game to boost the South to a 27-10 lead. The North rallied furiously in the final minutes as Anderson hit Telvin Amos of Lake Cormorant on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 2:39 to play. Caledonia’s Darrius Triplett would score for the North with 36 seconds remaining to make the final score South 27, North 24. The C Spire Most Valuable Offensive Player for the South was quarterback John Ford of Sumrall who was 9-of-21 for 128 yards, no interceptions, and 1 TD pass. The South’s C Spire Most Valuable Defensive Player was defensive lineman Kalvin Dinkins of Lake who recorded 2 QB sacks with 2 tackles. Athlete Telvin Amos of Lake Cormorant was selected as the C Spire Most Valuable Offensive Player for the North as he was 4-of-7 passing for 53 yards and one interception and racked up 34 yards rushing with an 11-yard touchdown catch. The North’s C Spire Most Valuable Defensive Player was defensive back Dillon Williams of Southaven who had 7 tackles and a QB sack. The North Bill Stewart Award winner was linebacker Jordan Allen of Clarksdale while the South Bill Stewart Award honor went to defensive end Cartize Booth of Bay Springs. North running back Deriaun Townsend of Winona received the game ball for most ad sales by an All-Star. The North C Spire Academic Achievement Award winner was center Austin Taylor of DeSoto Central and linebacker Luke Holland of West Harrison received the South C Spire Academic Achievement Award.
2016 BERNARD BLACKWELL CLASSIC NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME SUMMARY
The South erased a 14 point deficit by scoring 21 points in the second half to claim a 21-14 victory at a sunny and balmy Joseph Milner Stadium in Gulfport, MS, on December 17, 2016. The South win was the squad’s sixth in the last 8 games in the series since 2008 when the event was moved to the Gulf Coast. The South opened the game by recovering an onside kick and attempted a flea flicker on the first play from scrimmage, but the North snuffed out the play with an 11-yard loss. The North then scored first in the first quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jack Walker of Madison Central to Senatobia’s Travis Tucker. After Tre Truly of Charleston tossed a 32 yard pass to Tucker on a trick play, Walker then capped off the drive by plowing across the South line in the second stanza for a 1-yard touchdown to put the North up 14-0 at halftime. The South scored early in the third quarter on a 20-yard TD catch by Tyquan Ulmer of Laurel on a pass by St. Martin’s Wayne Overmann to slice the North lead to 14-7. Union’s Qui’Darian Jackson then recovered a fumble near mid field on the North’s next possession and the South struck again in the fourth quarter. Hattiesburg’s Julian Conner hit St. Martin’s Kalem Reddix on a 36-yard pass and Wayne County’s Chris Cooley recovered a fumble in the end zone two plays later to tie the game at 14-14. Meridian’s D’Angelo Anderson intercepted a North pass on the ensuing possession and returned the ball to the 23 yard line to set up what would be the winning score. Tyquan Ulmer of Laurel took a pitch from Overmann, pulled up, and connected with St. Stanislaus receiver Corbin Blanchard from 19 yards out for the game winning touchdown with 4:20 left in the game. The South then stopped the North on downs to preserve the win. The South Offensive MVP was Tyquan Ulmer of Laurel who caught a touchdown pass and threw for the game winner for a total of 3 catches for 32 yards, 1 rush for 5 yards, and 1 pass completed for 19 yards. The North Offensive MVP was wide receiver Travis Tucker of Senatobia who had 2 catches for 71 yards including a 25-yard touchdown catch. The South defensive MVP was QuiDarian Jackson of Union who recovered the key fumble to set up a South score. The North Defensive MVP was Cordarrius Bailey of Clarksdale who recorded tackles all over the field. The South’s Keonte Daniels of Noxapater received the game ball for most program ad sales. The Bill Stewart Award winner for the South was Detric Carter of Petal while the Bill Stewart Award recipient for the North was Brandon Smith of Lake Cormorant.
2015 BERNARD BLACKWELL CLASSIC NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME SUMMARY
The North upended the South 25-16 by scoring 19 fourth quarter points on a sun splashed cool day at Joseph Milner Stadium in Gulfport, MS, on December 19, 2015. The North victory snapped a 4-game winning streak by the South. The South led 14-0 before the North tallied with 7 seconds left in the second quarter for a 14-6 South lead at the half. After a scoreless third quarter, the North outscored the South 19-2 in the fourth stanza to claim the win. Key turnovers and a blocked punt led the North to the fourth quarter comeback. North Offensive MVP Otis Cross, Jr., from Kemper County led the scoring with 3 catches for 24 yards and 2 TDs. The North Defensive MVP was Lorenzo Dantzler of Starkville who had 4 tackles, one and a half sacks, and one and a half tackle for loss. The South Offensive MVP was Jeriko Morris of Crystal Springs who led all receivers as he snared 5 catches for 97 yards and 1 TD. The South Defensive MVP was T. J. Gray of Lake who had 5 total tackles, a half sack, a half tackle for loss, and 1 fumble recovery covering 75 yards. The North’s Zaccheaus Sias of South Delta received the game ball for most program ad sales. The Bill Stewart Award winner for the North was Dalton Bradfield of Germantown while the Bill Stewart Award recipient for the South was Juwan Adams of North Pike.
2013 BERNARD BLACKWELL CLASSIC NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME SUMMARY
LAST TIME OUT: The South toppled the North 24-9 on a foggy humid field at Joseph Milner Stadium in Gulfport, MS, on December 21, 2013, to claim the squad’s 3rd straight win. Quarterback Alex Woodall of McComb led the South by completing 6 of 9 passes for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns with one interception and was named the South’s Most Valuable Offensive Player. The South’s Kenton Cooley of Laurel was selected as the South’s Most Valuable Defensive Player as he returned an interception 32 yards for a 4th quarter touchdown to seal the South victory. Cooley also had 7 tackles for the game including a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery for his team. Placekicker Reed Bigham of Tupelo was chosen as the North’s Most Valuable Offensive Player as he booted a 48-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter and barely missed another 48 yarder which bounced off the crossbar in the 1st quarter. Calwaun Street of Charleston received the North’s Most Valuable Defensive Player Award as he made 8 tackles including one tackle for loss with one interception. The South’s Johnkil Skipper of Hazlehurst received the game ball for most program ad sales. The Bill Stewart Award winner for the North was James Gilleyen of Tupelo while the Bill Stewart Award recipient for the South was quarterback Kirk McCarty of Oak Grove who suffered a leg injury and was replaced by Alex Woodall. (The South now leads the series 31-26-4)
SCORING SUMMARY, 65th BERNARD BLACKWELL CLASSIC:
2nd quarter, 8:38, SOUTH, Patrick Ponder (Bay High) 30 yard field goal, South 6, North 0
2nd quarter, 6:10, SOUTH, DeJarvis Chambers (Wayne County) 20 yard reception from Alex Woodall (McComb), Patrick Ponder (Bay High) PAT kick, South 10, North 0
3rd quarter, 7:45, NORTH, Reed Bigham (Tupelo), 48 yard field goal, South 10, North 3
3rd quarter, 4:25, SOUTH, Julius Craft (Mendenhall) 39 yard reception from Alex Woodall, Patrick Ponder PAT kick, South17, North 3
4th quarter, 6:50, SOUTH, Kenton Cooley (Laurel) 32 yard interception return of E. J. Bounds (Water Valley) pass, Patrick Ponder PAT kick, South 24, North 3
4th quarter, :26, NORTH, Barron Burns (East Side) 1 yard run, Reed Bigham PAT missed, South 24, North 9
(At Joseph Milner Stadium, Lindy Callahan Field, Gulfport MS)
• OTHER 2013 GAME NOTES: The South’s 2013 win was the squad’s third in a row and the South has now claimed a win in five of the last six Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classics….The South took advantage of key North miscues to take an early 10-0 halftime lead….A dense fog obscured the players for most of the second quarter…..Following a turnover exchange in the 3rd quarter, the South took a commanding 17-3 lead on a 39-yard TD pass from Woodall to Julius Craft of Mendenhall with 4:25 left in the stanza. New Albany DB Chris Brown of the North went for an interception on the play but the ball went off his fingertips to Craft for the score…..Prior to his injury, the South’s QB Kirk McCarty of Oak Grove was 3 of 5 passing for 28 yards…..North QB E. J. Bounds of Water Valley finished with 7 of 12 passes completed for 78 yards and 1 TD. Bounds connected with Marcus Green of North Pontotoc for a 68-yard pass that led to the North’s only touchdown by East Side’s Barron Burns on a 1-yard run with 26 seconds left in the contest…..Madison Central’s Joseph Willis was 5-of-8 passing for 24 yards for the North…..Alex Woodall’s touchdown passes for the South were for 20 yards to DeJarvis Chambers of Wayne County at the 6:10 mark in the second quarter and for 39 yards to Julius Craft of Mendenhall with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter…..The leading rusher for the North was Marcus LeFlore of Olive Branch who ran for 25 yards on 8 attempts. The leading ground gainer for the South and the game was Chad Blackwell of Mize who powered for 44 yards on 6 rushes....The leading receiver for the game was the South’s WR DeJarvis Chambers of Wayne County who snagged 3 catches for 39 yards and one TD. The North’s leading pass catcher was RB DeVonta Gates of Baldwyn who had 3 receptions for 16 yards…..The South’s Roderick Sims of Oak Grove led all defensive players with 10 tackles including one tackle for loss…..The South defense recorded 3 QB sacks and 8 tackles for loss while the North also had 3 QB sacks and 8 tackles for loss. The North’s DE Joe Green of Madison Central had 1 sack and 4 tackles for loss…..
2012 BERNARD BLACKWELL CLASSIC NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME SUMMARY
After trailing 13-6 at the half, the South scored four unanswered touchdowns to defeat the North 34-13 at Joseph Milner Stadium, Lindy Callahan Field, in Gulfport, MS, on December 22, 2012. Quarterback Khadarel Hodge of Mendenhall sparked the South rally in the second half by throwing for 100 yards and rushing for 26 yards. Hodge was selected as the South’s Most Valuable Offensive Player while Cody Gilchrist of Jefferson County was named the South’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. Quarterback Payne Horan of Grenada was chosen as the North’s Most Valuable Offensive Player while teammate DeShadrick Truly of Charleston was the North’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. Nick Beasley of Madison St. Joseph received the game ball for most program ad sales. The Bill Stewart Award winner for the South was East Marion’s Antron Watts while the North Bill Stewart Award recipient was Clifton Smith of Oxford.
SCORING SUMMARY, 64th BERNARD BLACKWELL CLASSIC:
1st quarter, 4:50, SOUTH, Jamal Hatten (Hattiesburg) 13 yard run, PAT kick missed, South 6, North 0
2nd quarter, 10:55, NORTH, Charles Moore, Jr. (Itawamba AHS) 2 yard run, PAT kick blocked, South 6, North 6
2nd quarter, 5:09, NORTH, Jacoby Smith (Starkville) 42 yard fumbled lateral return, Jeb Millender (Pontotoc) PAT kick, North 13, South 6
3rd quarter, 8:10, SOUTH, Demetrius Cain (Hazlehurst) 42 yard run, Grant Warren (Pascagoula) PAT kick, South 13, North 13
3rd quarter, 3:21, SOUTH, Jerome Keys (Bassfield), 1 yard run, Grant Warren PAT kick, South 20, North 13
3rd quarter 0:32, SOUTH, Thamaz Taylor (Purvis) 5 yard run, Grant Warren PAT kick, South 27, North 13
4th quarter, 5:20, SOUTH, Austin Watts (Sumrall) 48 yard reception from Khadarel Hodge (Mendenhall), Grant Warren PAT kick, South 34, North 10
Attendance: N/A at Joseph Milner Stadium, Gulfport MS
• OTHER 2012 POSTGAME NOTES: The South victory in 2012 was the squad’s second in a row and the South has now claimed a win in four of the last five Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classics….The South took advantage of three second-half North turnovers to produce 14 of the 28 unanswered points. The South scored on its first four second half possessions…..Khadarel Hodge of Mendenhall took over as the South signal caller in the second half and was the spark for the South win as he completed all four of his passes for 100 yards including the game-clinching 48 yard TD strike to Sumrall’s Austin Watts in the fourth quarter. Hodge is the first cousin of former Ole Miss receiver Shay Hodge…..Ocean Springs receiver Ishmel Morrow had five catches for 68 yards and racked up 66 yards on kickoff returns for the South……The North’s Dario Robinson of Amory caught four passes for 49 yards and had 95 yards on five returns….. One of the key turnovers in the game happened at the 1:47 mark of the 3rd quarter as the South’s Antron Watts of East Marion (named the South’s Bill Stewart Award winner) recovered a fumble at the North 42 yard line to halt a North drive and set up a South TD scored by Thamaz Taylor of Purvis a minute later to extend the South lead to 27-13…..Quarterback Payne Horan of Grenada, the North Offensive MVP, completed 9 of 18 passes for 130 yards, but tossed a key interception in the North’s final drive of the first half….The North had a last chance to make a game of the contest in the fourth quarter trailing 27-13 inside the South 10-yard line, however, Adam Perronne of Pearl River Central sacked Horan for a 10-yard loss on 3rd down. Horan’s 4th down pass fell incomplete in the end zone to halt the scoring threat….
