2016 Game Sponsors

South 13, North 3: South Rallies to Defeat North 13-3 in 47th Annual All-Star Football Game

(Game story by Dave Giles, Minnesota All-Star Football Game Historian)

In a game of missed opportunities for both teams, it took a tight end moving to the quarterback position to spark the South All-Stars to their fourth straight win in the All-Star series. The South rallied to score two touchdowns in the final six minutes to defeat the North All-Stars 13-3 in the 47th Annual Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game (known as the Minnesota Football Showcase) at U.S. Bank Stadium.

With the win, the South leads the all-time North-South series 16-10-1. The South leads the current North-South series (2011-2019) 8-2. The South has won all four All-Star games played at U.S. Bank Stadium. This is the third time the South has had a four-game winning streak in All-Star game history (also 1976-1979 and 2012-2015).

Russell Corrigan (Hutchinson), a natural tight end, played quarterback this season for his Hutchinson team, leading the Tigers to 12-1 record and a berth in the Class 4A semifinals. He was named to the South All-Stars as a tight end and was in the South starting lineup at that position. But with his team trailing 3-0 with six minutes remaining, he moved to the quarterback position and promptly led his team to its first score, on a two play 56-yard drive.

On second down from the 50-yard line, Corrigan’s long pass down the left side to Jonathan Mann (WR Rosemount) was tipped straight up into the air by North defensive back Matthias Algarin (Pierz CB) and caught acrobatically by Mann at the 12-yard line. Mann sprinted into the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown. Louis Hyde (PK, Benilde-St. Margaret’s) added the PAT for a 7-3 South lead with 5:29 to play.

After the ensuing kickoff, the North started at their 32, quickly gaining 10 yards in two plays for a first down at their 42. After two incomplete passes, the North lost 10 yards on a sack back to their 32 (sack by Landon Carter, DE Lakeville North). A 38-yard Hunter Dustman punt and a 17-yard punt return by Jack Fisher (PR Rochester Century) set up the South, first down at their 47.

Corrigan and Rudy Voss (QB Jackson County Central) then led the South on a crisp four play, 53-yard scoring drive for their second touchdown. Two Corrigan carries gained 15 yards and a first down at the North 38. Rudy Voss ran 36 yards down the right side to the North 2-yard line. On first and goal, Corrigan scored on a two-yard run with 2:09 remaining. The two-point conversion attempt failed, and the North led 13-3.

The North had one final possession, throwing four straight incomplete passes from their 15-yard line. The South took over with just over one-minute remaining and ran out the clock for a 13-3 win.

The game started off well for the North All-Stars, with three trips into the South red-zone on their first three possessions.

With Aidan Bauman (Buffalo) at quarterback, the North started at their 43 and drove 46 yards in 10 plays. The drive stalled at the South 11. Hunter Dustman (PK St. Francis) kicked a 29-yard field goal and the North led 3-0 with 7:42 remaining in the first quarter. The North would maintain that 3-0 lead until the final six minutes of the game.

On their second drive, the North drove from their 18, 80 yards to a first and goal at the South 3. Two one-yard runs moved the ball to the South 1. On third and goal, a loss of one yard (running play) moved the ball back to the South 2 on the final play of the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, it was fourth and goal at the 2 and the South stopped the North’s Miles Taylor (RB Coon Rapids) for no gain, ending the threat.

Later in the second quarter, Derrek Piepho’s (DB, CB, Alexandria) second interception of the game put the ball at the North 48. A South penalty moved the ball to the South 47. On the next play, a Bauman 43-yard pass completion to Matthias Algarin (WR, Pierz) put the North at the South 4-yard line. The North then threw four consecutive incomplete passes from the South 4, with the fourth down pass knocked down by South linebacker Dylan Bair (Prior Lake). It was the consecutive second North scoring drive to end inside the South 5-yard line with no points.

Late in the second quarter, the South drove 35-yards in five plays, but the drive ended at the North 7-yard line with one second remaining. A 24-yard field attempt by Louis Hyde (PK, Benilde-St. Margaret’s) was wide as time expired in the first half.

Offensively, Luke Imdieke (RB Osakis) led the North with 11 carries for 58 yards. He was the North Offensive MVP. Rudy Voss (QB Jackson County Central) was the leading South rusher with 7 carries for 88 yards. South Offensive MVP Jonathan Mann (WR Rosemount, future Gopher) had 3 catches for 60 yards and one touchdown. Russell Corrigan (TE/QB Hutchinson) was 1 for 2 for 50 yards and a touchdown pass. He had 5 carries for 31 yards plus a 2-yard rushing touchdown.

Defensive standouts included North Defensive MVP Derrek Piepho (DB, Alexandria) who had two pass interceptions, 3.5 tackles and a fumble recovery. Matthias Algarin (WR/CB, Pierz) also had an interception for the North. South Defensive MVP Craig McDonald (DB, FS SMB Wolfpack) had an interception and three tackles.

Head Coaches: North – Jon Konold, Willmar; South – Brad Wendland, Waseca

North Captains: Josh Fobbe (QB Becker), Aidan Bauman (QB Buffalo), Cody Lindenberg (DB Anoka), Quientrail Jamison-Travis (DT Minneapolis North)

South Captains: RaJa Nelson (RB Lakeville North), Jonathan Mann (WR Rosemount), Russell Corrigan (TE/QB Hutchinson), Aaron Witt (DE Winona)

2019 MVPs: Offense, North: Luke Imdieke, Osakis (RB); Defense, North: Derrek Piepho, Alexandria (DB, CB); Offense, South: Jonathan Mann, Rosemount (WR); Defense, South: Craig McDonald, SMB Wolfpack (DB, FS)

SCORING SUMMARY BY QUARTERS: 

SCORING SUMMARY:

First quarter:

North – Hunter Dustman (St. Francis 5A) 29-yard field goal 7:42 (North 3-0; scoring drive 10 plays, 46 yards)

Second quarter:

No scoring 

Third quarter:

No scoring

Fourth quarter:

South – Jonathan Mann (Rosemount 6A) 50-yard pass from Russell Corrigan (Hutchinson 4A); Louis Hyde (Benilde-St. Margaret’s 4A) kick 5:29 (South 7-3; scoring drive 2 plays, 56 yards)

South – Russell Corrigan (Hutchinson 4A) 2-yard run; 2-point conversion run failed 2:04; (South 13-3; scoring drive 4 plays, 53 yards)

Uniforms: South – White on white, purple trim; North – purple on purple, white trim