Derrell Johnson earns Ohio MVP in Big 33 Classic

The Mooney High graduate rushed for 143 yards in the loss to Pennsylvania.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
HERSHEY, Pa. -- Derrell Johnson of Mooney was named MVP for Ohio, but Pennsylvania prevailed 61-42 in the Big 33 Football Classic Saturday night.
Ohio led 20-14 at halftime and Johnson added to the lead with a 41-yard scoring run early in the third period on a quarterback keeper. Johnson, an Iowa recruit who was originally expected to play wide receiver, rushed for 143 yards.
Dave Williams caught touchdown passes from three different players to lead Pennsylvania. Williams had two receptions in the opposite corners of the end zone as the centerpiece of a four-touchdown Pennsylvania streak over a 6:41 period in the third quarter, using three Ohio turnovers to rally from a 28-14 deficit.
North-South game
COLUMBUS -- Ricky Stanzi threw three touchdown passes to lead the North to a 34-13 victory over the South.
Stanzi, an Iowa-bound quarterback from Mentor Lake Catholic, completed 7-of-12 passes for 172 yards. He hit Marc Krauss (Hamler Patrick Henry, Ohio University) on scoring throws of 16 and 21 yards in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. He also threw a 72-yard scoring pass to running back Alex Knipp (Amherst Steele, Ball State).
Stanzi finished 8-of-12 passing for 178 yards and was selected the game's MVP. Krauss had four catches for 59 yards and was the North's offensive MVP, with Ohio State recruit Robert Rose (Cleveland Glenville) capturing defensive honors with a sack and several other tackles.
The South's top players were Armand Robinson (Reynoldsburg, Miami, Ohio) with eight catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, and Alex Albright (Cincinnati St. Xavier, Boston College) who had a sack.
Late in the opening quarter, South quarterback Nate Davis (Bellaire, Ball State) dropped back in shotgun formation but the snap from center sailed over his head. He scrambled after the bouncing ball, arriving the same time as North defensive lineman Skylaar Constant (Bedford, Toledo). The ball squirted loose again and eventually rolled into the end zone where Constant fell on it.
Bryan Wright (Salem, Michigan) added his first of four extra-point kicks.
Midway through the second quarter on third and 10 at his own 28, Stanzi took the snap and avoided pressure by rolling to his right. He tossed a 10-yard pass to Knipp. A defensive mix-up left Knipp all alone and he raced down the right sideline untouched for the 72-yard touchdown.
Key stop
The North also threatened once but on fourth and 1 at the South 32, running back Jamel Miller (Tallmadge, Miami, Ohio) was gang tackled by South defenders Bo Frye (St. Marys Memorial, Northern Michigan), Erik Jones (Cincinnati Winton Woods, Western Kentucky) and Tyler Moeller (Cincinnati Colerain, Ohio State).
After penalties gave the South a first down at the North 5, Davis lofted a fade pattern to the right corner for 6-6 wide receiver Josh Chichester (Lakota West, Louisville). He caught the high pass over the grasp of 6-1 defensive back Mark Jackson (Canton McKinley, Toledo) for the touchdown in the final minute of the half.
After a scoreless third period, the North pushed the lead to 20-6 on Stanzi's 16-yard scoring pass to Krauss.
The South countered on a 29-yard TD pass from Davis to Robinson to cut the lead to 20-13.
Davis finished 21-of-47 passing for 221 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.