It was a battle pitting the United Spring Football League’s best of the best against each other during the league’s All-Star Game on Saturday at Long Bell Stadium.
The North squad downed the South team, 28-6.
The South charged early with a touchdown in the first quarter off a 15-yard touchdown reception. But it was at a great cost as starting quarterback Frank Troup — one of seven Hinesville Hurricanes selected for the game — had to leave the game with an ankle injury. On the two-point conversion attempt, the South gave the ball to Hinesville’s Kendrick Badger, who cut to the outside but was denied.
The North team, made up primarily of players from the Georgia Pirates of Augusta, drove to the South 12 on its first possession. But the South team stuffed the run and handed the North squad a tackle for loss on fourth down. The South started on its 19 and moved the ball to the 27 before turning it over on downs. The North team faced fourth-and-long but converted a first down on a 13-yard pass. That set up 7-yard touchdown run for the North, which also made the two-point conversion for an 8-6 lead.
The South took over with good field position after the North’s kickoff landed out of bounds. Despite having the ball at its 45, the South was unable to gain any ground.
The South got a little bit of help with a solid kick, forcing the North team to start at its 19.But the North moved the ball, and on third down, it pulled out the flea-flicker and scored a touchdown on a 40-yard-pass to take a 14-6 lead just before halftime.
The start of the second half provided a brief spark for the South when it intercepted a pass. But he North scored again with three minutes left in the third quarter. The North team secured the win with another touchdown in the fourth.
The South also had players from the Georgia ‘Canes, the Upstate Redskinz and the CSRA Cobras.
The North had Georgia Pirates and CSRA Knight players.