Photo

Photo by: William D. Lewis

The helmet of Salem’s Matt Schuster (60), a member of the Mahoning/Columbiana All-Star team, comes off as he flattens Trumbull All-Star Zack Wilson of Howland to allow Mahoning teammate Nick Williams (1) of Fitch to score a touchdown during the Jack Arvin All-Star Football Classic on Thursday at Girard’s Arrowhead Stadium. Mahoning defeated Trumbull, 28-7.

Mahoning/Columbiana All-Stars topple Trumbull County

By Steve Wilaj

sports@vindy.com

girard

When Mahoning County All-Star quarterback P.J. Quinn of Cardinal Mooney of turned to hand off the ball on Thursday, he was greeted by a familiar face.

Accustomed to seeing him on the opposite sideline, Quinn was glad to finally have rival running back Trevor Smith of Ursuline in his backfield.

“It was nice having him on my side,” Quinn said of Smith, who finished with 79 yards rushing and a touchdown. “When we played each other, there was a little turmoil, but us Youngstown people, we have each others backs.

“It was a good time.”

In the 28th annual Jack Arvin Football Classic, the Mahoning County squad bullied their way to a 28-7 victory against the Trumbull County All-Stars.

Along with rivals-turned-teammates Quinn and Smith, Campbell running back Ja’les Hughes and Salem full back Jordan Pierce rounded out an imposing Mahoning County backfield.

In all, Mahoning County rushed for 244 yards on 48 attempts.

“It’s always easier playing with good backs and they carried the load,” Quinn said.

“We knew we had two horses in Smith and Hughes,” said Mike Kopachy, Mahoning County head coach. “And Quinn is no small child to bring down, either.”

Quinn, who is still considering a walk-on offer from YSU, took home the game MVP. In addition to completing 6 of 12 passes for 105 yards, he rushed for 43 yards.

“He’s just a field general,” Kopachy said. “You can tell he’s a seasoned state champion quarterback because he makes it all go. He tells ‘em where to line up, knows the plays, can hit a pass, or can run it.”

Pierce, who finished with 28 yards on seven carries, showed his running ability in the first quarter with a 2-yard touchdown.

After a Trumbull County fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Mahoning County scored again when Hughes scampered into the end zone from six yards out.

The Campbell alum capped-off an 80-yard rushing performance with a 17-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

“I gotta give thanks to my line blocking and the full backs blocking,” Hughes said. “Just reading my keys, that’s basically what it was.”

Hughes added that the team experience was most enjoyable.

“Just meeting new friends, playing with different people, he said. “This will be with me forever.”

Kopachy said team attitudes like Hughes’ made for a “special group.”

“I’ve coached in three all star games and I’ve never seen a group come together like these guys,” he said. “They felt like they’ve been playing together since August and when you have that kind of feeling and camaraderie, you know you’re going to come out on top.”

As a result, Trumbull County never posed much of a threat.

After falling behind 21-0 and losing their starting quarterback Dan Grazziano (Girard) to injury, they finally got on the board in the fourth quarter.

Matt Brazin of Newton Falls connected with Brandan Byrd (Girard) in stride on a deep pass over the Mahoning County secondary. Byrd was able to take it the distance for a 67-yard touchdown.

Brazin finished with 81 passing yards and one touchdown, while Ahmad Eggleston (Girard) led Trumbull County rushers with 40 yards.

For the Mahoning County defense, Anthony Abeid of Youngstown Christian had an interception.