CLINTON — After Friday night’s MPSA All-Star game, you can bump the South team’s win total to 20. The South defeated the North 32-22.
The game not only featured the best and the brightest of MPSA’s senior class from around the state, but people also came to pay tribute to the end of an era as Parklane head coach Charlie Newlon coached in the final high school game of his career.
“I have been very fortunate and had the privilege to coach the greatest game in the world,” Newlon said. “This makes 10 All Star Classics I have coached in and we have won eight of them and I am proud of that.”
The South jumped out on its North counterparts 22-0 in the first half and never looked back.
“This has been a wild ride for me,” Centreville lineman Russ Vine said. “We won state last week and the All Star game this week and tonight was all about having fun and meeting new people.”
There is no doubt the South had fun as it jumped into the shotgun and slung the ball all over the Mississippi College field led by Lamar School quarterback Andrew Watkins.
“We had great coaches this week and we adapted quickly here,” Watkins said. “Logan Rush played with me this year and that was good, but Parklane’s Dane Hogan and I just connected and we had a very good passing game tonight.”
Watkins connected on 14-of-24 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. He hit Hogan on a sharply thrown 23-yard strike in the third quarter to crush any momentum the North may have had as they had pulled within seven.
“That throw was a perfect throw that Watkins threw deep in the back corner,” Hogan said. “We said we were just going to throw it up and I would go get it and I did.”
The South outgained the North 374 to 301 and dominated the line of scrimmage for most of the game, leading to the South’s second straight victory and third in the past four years.
Newlon won his eighth All Star Classic and five state championships. With 30 years of coaching experience, Newlon reflected on how the game has changed over time and how he has had to adapt.
“Years ago we just lined up in the Notre Dame box or the I-backfield,” Newlon said. “Now like you saw tonight it’s five wide receivers and complicated play calling, but you have to change with the times and I think being able to do that is one reason I have been able to do this for some time.”
Hogan added, “Coach is the best I have been around. He just knows football and he puts you in a great spot all the time to have a chance to win ball games.”
For Newlon this was one last time to connect with the best of the best.
“All these players here are good and it is not only an honor for the players to be here but also the coaches,” Newlon said. “You just meet so many good people over time and in situations like this week. You build friendships that last a lifetime and that is what really counts — connecting with others.”
