PREP FOOTBALL SHRINE GAME : North Makes the Bigger Plays, 19-14

In a game filled with big plays, the North needed three in the fourth quarter to pull out a 19-14 victory over the South in the Shrine all-star football game Saturday night before an estimated crowd of 3,000 at the Rose Bowl.

After seeing the South score its points on a 66-yard punt return by Charles Levy and a 17-yard touchdown pass from Jack Manu to Jason Green, the North called on its stars to shine in the game’s final minutes.

With 2:26 remaining and the South ahead, 14-13, the North’s Steve Hines of Pittsburg started things off with a 46-yard punt return. Hines, who will attend Washington State in the fall, avoided three tacklers near his 20 and then weaved downfield to put the North into scoring position.

Hines also played a role in the North’s next big play as he was on the receiving end of a key third-down, 13-yard pass play from quarterback Eric Bjornson of Oakland Bishop O’Dowd, taking the North to the South’s 20.

With 52 seconds left, the North capitalized on its last big effort when John Rushing of Merced, who scored twice, swept four yards for the winning touchdown.

“All game we were confident that we were going to win,” Hines said. “We had to have some plays in the end and I just tried to get things happening with my punt return.”

Lynwood’s Levy, who is headed to play quarterback at Arizona, said that the South simply wasn’t able to stop the North’s big plays in the fourth quarter.

“Our defense had a little trouble in the end and we just lost it on a couple of big plays,” said Levy, who was named the South’s most valuable player in accounting for 125 yards total offense.

After Rushing’s score, the South went to Trabuco Hills’ Tim Manning at quarterback and rallied past midfield on completions to Jeremy Smith of Bishop Amat and Michael Ross of Carson. Their rally fell short, however, giving the North its second win in the last three years.

“Sometimes the circumstances get to you and you lose a game,” said Paramount Coach Ken Sutch, who along with Jim Barnett of Trabuco Hills directed the South team. “It’s frustrating, but the kids gave it a good effort.”

When Levy scored on a punt return less than a minute into the game, the South appeared to be headed for its second consecutive easy victory, having won last year’s matchup, 23-7.

However, the North quickly answered by driving 80 yards to tie the game on a three-yard run by Rushing. Running back Deon Strother of Oakland Skyline gained 36 yards in the drive.

Despite its big plays, the North was outgained in total offense, 305-265.