Battle of Ohio: North/South Classic Set to Showcase Valley Top High School Football Talent
Football fans from all over Ohio are gearing up for the 76th annual OHSFCA North/South Classic, set to take place on April 29th, 2023 at Paul Brown Stadium in Massillon, Ohio. This showcase has been touted as the longest running high school football all-star game in the country, and it promises to be an exciting event for everyone in attendance.
The North/South Classic will feature two games, one for smaller schools and one for larger schools. The Division 1-3 game will start at noon, while the Division 4-7 game will start at 4 PM. The Mahoning Valley will be well represented at this event, with ten area players taking the field to showcase their skills.
The North’s Divisions 1-3 Team will be anchored by two offensive linemen from Ursuline, Isaac Lucas and Brian Franco. Lucas, a three-year starter for the Irish, has committed to play his college ball at Ball State, while Franco, a four-year starter, will be playing at Saint Francis University. Both linemen were part of the 2022 State Runner-up team. Last year, Ursuline was represented by Coach Dan Reardon, who was the Head Coach for the North Small Schools (Divisions 4-7) Team. DeMarcus McElroy and Dean Boyd represented Ursuline on the field.
Joining Lucas and Franco will be Josh Fitzgerald of Fitch, who helped lead the Falcons to a strong 10-win season this past year. He will be continuing on to play football for Sacred Heart University. Fitch QB Devin Sherwood was named MVP of the Division 1-3 game in 2022 after throwing four touchdown passes. The North won 39-18.
Also representing the big schools will be a Chaney trio, including Coach Seth Antram and two of his star players, Jason Hewlett and DJ Waller. Both players are two-way stars for the Cowboys and will be playing their college football at the University of Michigan. The trio helped secure two home playoff games for the Chaney Cowboys this past season.
On the small school side, the State Champion South Range Raiders will have three players in the game, including Defensive Line standout Bailey Ryan, who had two sacks and a blocked punt in the championship game. JD Krouse and Ayden Leon will serve as weapons in the passing game. Krouse will be attending Baldwin Wallace in the fall. Hubbard Offensive Lineman Ben Chaney will team up with Brookfield Offensive Lineman Connor Heater, before being on opposite ends of one of the biggest rivalries in sports. Chaney will be playing football for the Army, and Heater will be heading to the Navy.
This year's game promises to be a fierce battle between some of Ohio's most talented high school football players. With so much talent on both sides of the ball, fans can expect to see a hard-fought game that could go down to the wire. As always, the North South Classic will be a must-see event for any football fan, and it's sure to be a day filled with excitement, energy, and passion for the game.