Most football all-star games are high-scoring affairs featuring lots of explosive plays on offense to go along with a bit of defensive indifference.

That was not the case Sunday in the Colonial-Schuylkill League All-Star game.

The Schuylkill defense held a shutout through nearly three quarters, and didn’t allow the Colonial League into the end zone until the game’s final play in a 24-9 win in the second annual playing of the game Sunday at Northern Lehigh High School.

Marian Catholic linebacker Charlie Hower and his teammates didn’t plan for a high-scoring game, and saw to it that their opponent wouldn’t have one.

“Coming from Marian, it’s a defensive school. You can’t win a game without defense,” said Hower, adding that the game is a bit more relaxed than a Friday night in fall. “It’s all about fun and trying to beat the other team. No hatred. Just fun.”

On five of the Colonial League’s 12 possessions, it was unable to record a first down. On three other drives, the SL allowed just one first down before forcing a punt or turnover.

The Schuylkill League defense forced a quick punt and intercepted a pass on the CL’s first two drives.

After the interception by Schuylkill Haven’s Leyden Hertz, the Skook squad mounted the first sustained drive of the game. It marched 49 yards before the drive stalled at the CL 17-yard line.

North Schuylkill kicker Gavin Mentzer, who booted five kickoffs for touchbacks, made a 34-yard field goal to put his team ahead 3-0 with 11:46 left in the first half.

A partially blocked punt set up SL near midfield for its next possession. It needed just two plays to score the game’s first touchdown, as Tri-Valley quarterback Blake Schwartz hit Gaige Guers (Blue Mountain) with a 26-yard pass to start the drive. After an offensive pass interference penalty negated a long catch, Schwartz went back to Guers and they connected for a 47-yard touchdown to take a 10-0 lead with 5:08 left in the first half.

Guers caught four passes for 89 yards in the game.

The SL stretched its lead to 17-0 when Blue Mountain’s Tyler Stahley broke free for a 14-yard run to pay dirt late in the third quarter. Jim Thorpe’s Justin Yescavage had a 31-yard catch on the touchdown drive.

The Olympian caught four passes for 59 yards in the all-star game.

Yescavage said he enjoyed playing against and alongside the best of the best players from his league.

“It’s a lot harder, but it’s definitely a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s always awesome just to come out and have fun.”

The Colonial League got on the board with a 37-yard Mark Talpas (Notre Dame) field goal with under a minute left in the third quarter to make it 17-3.

The CL had opportunities to close the gap even more in the second half, but the Schuylkill defense had other ideas.

Early in the second half an interception by Palmerton’s Aidan Ortiz gave the Colonial League it’s best starting field position of the day at the SL 35-yard line. The possession ended with a turnover on downs after only netting two yards.

Jim Thorpe’s Aaron Curran returned a punt 42 yards to the SL 36-yard line. An interception ended the drive four plays and just six yards later as the SL defense tightened when it needed to.

The CL forced another punt that was returned deep into SL territory, but a penalty negated the gain and the drive resulted in a four-and-out.

The Schuykill team went up 24-3 on a 29-yard Sam Walborn (Nativity) touchdown run with two minutes left.

The Colonial League finally got to the end zone when Jim Thorpe’s Justin Yescavage caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Jeramy Cressman (Wilson) as time expired.

“We come out here, we’re the all-star players,” said Yescavage. “We’re the best players from our teams. Getting shut out is a feeling none of us wanted to have. We want to compete. We were doing good things. Getting that touchdown really put the pieces of the puzzle together for us.”

The game allows players who battle against one another every fall to come together and form a team and compete side by side. Unexpected friendships are formed through playing a game they all love.

Players who were rivals in fall become pals in spring.

“I hated everyone from Minersville,” said Hower. “During the [regular season] game we all hated each other, but we all came here and had fun and played together. It was more of a bond. Football really brings everyone together.”

Yescavage agrees.

“You’ve been beefing back and forth for four years,” he said. “Now you come out here and you see they’re just a competitive athlete, too. It’s totally different being along side them.”

MORE FROM THE SL ... Other members of the Schuylkill League roster include Michael Johnson (Marian), Frank Shubeck (Panther Valley) and Zack Seifert (Panther Valley).

THE REST OF THE CL ... Other members of the Colonial League roster include Devon Armbruster (Lehighton), Logan Kent (Lehighton), Ayden Oswald (Northern Lehigh), Landen Matson (Northwestern Lehigh), Jameson Trainer (Palmerton), Seth Kern (Northwestern Lehigh), Isaac Raber (Northern Lehigh), Jared Meck (Northwestern Lehigh), Eli Gray (Northern Lehigh), Landon Moll (Northern Lehigh), Jackson Bailey (Northwestern Lehigh), Jackson Huber (Northwestern Lehigh, Brock Gower (Lehighton) and Joe Roth (Lehighton).

AWARDS ... After the game four awards were handed out. Named the oustanding linemen in the game were Nuallan King (Pen Argyl) and Sander Stokes (North Schuylkill). Team MVPs were Jason St. Leger (Salisbury) and Leyden Hertz (Nativity).

Schuylkill 24, Colonial 9

Scoring

SL - Mentzer 34 FG

SL - Guers 42 pass from Schwartz (Mentzer kick)

SL - Stahley 14 run (Mentzer kick)

CL - Talpas 37 FG

SL - Walborn 29 run (Mentzer kick)

CL - Yescavage 24 pass from Cressman