Valley players to compete in North-South games

Staff report

The Valley will be well represented in today’s annual OHSFCA North-South Classic at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium.

Eleven area players in total will suit up in the two all-star games that separate the state’s best players by school size. The small school game, Divisions IV-VII, will kick off first at 2 p.m., followed by the big school game, Divisions I-III, at 6 p.m.

In the small school game, the North team will feature three future Youngstown State Penguins. Running back Joe Alessi of South Range, the Valley’s leading rusher last season with 2,507 yards and 38 touchdowns, offensive lineman Jacob Zinni of West Branch and tight end/defensive end Mark Schuler will team up with four other area players. Wideouts Ben Phillips (Liberty) and Joe Falasca (Western Reserve) lead a talented receiving corps. Falasca had the area’s second-most receiving yards last season with 661 yards and led all wideouts with 12 touchdowns. Phillips caught seven touchdowns and had 362 yards.

Rounding out the North representatives is lineman Ben Witt of Lakeview.

In the big school game, the Valley is sending three Division I college signees. Hubbard lineman Matt Jones and linebacker Tyler Taafe will join Boardman linebacker Evan Croutch on the North team. Jones signed with West Virginia, while Taafe and Croutch will stay in-state and go to Toledo and Ohio University, respectively.

Also on the team is wide receiver Tate Duarte of Poland and lineman Mike Bell of Howland.