Tiger helps South win all-star game

There are other postseason all-star football games, but the granddaddy of them all, and arguably the most prestigious in Indiana, is the Indiana High School Coaches Association Murat Shrine North/South All-Star Classic. The rosters for the game include elite players from all six enrollment classes. 

The 2024 game took place on Friday, July 12, at Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis before a near sellout crowd. The South team won the coin toss and elected to defer. The North quickly capitalized on the decision with an 80-yard touchdown pass from Nolan McCullough (Penn HS) to T.J. Caldwell (Hobart HS). Austin Deleon (Norwell HS) kicked the extra point to give the North a 7-0 lead one minute into the game.

It turned out to be the only lead the North would enjoy. The South scored the next 38 points to build a 38-7 lead after three quarters, before eventually winning 41-14. 

The South used a balanced attack, throwing two touchdown passes, scoring three rushing touchdowns, and kicking two field goals. Trevor Henkle (Zionsville HS) kicked both field goals and added five PAT kicks. 

Logan Parrish, a 2024 Hagerstown graduate, and an Indiana Wesleyan University commit, was selected to the South team as an offensive lineman. Offensive linemen toil in the trenches to open holes for the glamor position players who get most of the publicity. Parrish, who started for the South, and his fellow offensive linemen controlled the line of scrimmage to open repeated opportunities for running backs. 

Grayson Thomas (New Palestine HS) rushed 19 times for 60 yards and Garrett Sherrell (Brownsburg HS) rushed nine times for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Sherrell, who was named the game’s most valuable player, tied the series record for most points scored in a game.

Parrish is only the sixth player from a Wayne County school selected to play in the game in the last nine years. He shared his thoughts after the game.

“Being selected to play in this game was a great honor for me,” Parrish said. “It has been a great experience. The team is loaded with talented players. We quickly became friends this week and worked together to succeed and the coaches were great. This week, and this game, are experiences I will never forget.” 

South 14  10  14   3   41   

North    7    0    0   7   14

Scoring summary:

South: Garrett Sherrell 4-yard run, Henkle kick. Logan Shoffer (Noblesville HS) 34-yard pass reception from Jackson Gilbert (Westfield HS), Henkle kick. Sherrell 28-yard run, Henkle kick. Henkle 33-yard field goal. Cayden Olinger (Brownsburg HS) 11-yard pass reception from Gilbert. Sherrell 36-yard run. Henkle 24-yard field goal.  

North- T.J. Caldwell 80-yard pass reception from McCullough, Austin Deleon kick, Demarion Spence (Hammond Morton HS) 31-yard pass reception from McCullough. Deleon kick. 

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