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North-South Game has many locals
By JOHN BASSETTI
Seven area senior standouts will be joined by Salem football coach Mike Kopachy as representatives from the NEO district when the North-South All-Star Classic is played at Ohio Stadium on Friday.
The players selected were linemen Zach Larson and Eric Franklin of Cardinal Mooney, lineman J.T. Moore of Boardman, and his high school teammate, receiver Chase Hammond, along with Poland’s Luke Wollet, Salem’s Ben Eisel and Liberty’s Antonio Kinard.
The date of the game was moved to avoid conflict with the Big 33 football game, played in Hershey, Pa..
“This is the first year the game [North-South] is in April,” Kopachy said of the game, normally played in June.
“It’ll be a bigger deal than in the past,” Kopachy said, noting the rosters will have many of the state’s top players who opted for the Big 33 game in the past.
“We [Ohio High School Football Coaches Association] wanted the best to play in the North-South, so we have the date separate from Big 33.”
Friday’s game at 7 p.m. will be televised on Sportstime Ohio.
It’s also one day before the Ohio State spring game.
Kopachy will be on a staff of six who were coaches of the year in their respective OHSFCA regions. The coaches, along with the players, were picked following a meeting in December.
Kopachy believes that the last Salem player to make a North-South game roster was former Ohio State and NFL standout Kirk Lowdermilk.
“It’s a tribute what we’ve been able to accomplish as a team and, without the season we team had, Ben and I wouldn’t be here in this game.”
Before taking over the Salem job last season, Kopachy piloted Western Reserve to the playoffs two of his last three years. Last fall, the Quakers (9-3) made their first playoff appearance before losing to Steubenville in the Div. III regional semifinals.
The North squad had three practices at Massillon’s indoor facility and had workouts at Ohio Stadium on Wednesday and today.
“It’s a big deal because it’s the first time in awhile we’ll have the top players from Ohio in this game,” said Kopachy. “Before, Ohio [team roster] was pretty much split between North-South and Big 33 games. I think the powers that be felt that hurt each game a little, so, in order to have the best in both games, it was done this way. I think it’s going to be a pretty exciting game.”
Tickets ($5) may be obtained from Mike Pavlansky. They will also be available at the game.