LEXINGTON — The South simply dominated play on both sides of the ball as they pummeled the North in the 2010 Buckeye Superstore/McDonald’s All-Star Football Classic, 48-13, on Saturday evening at Lexington High School.
The South’s defense was led by Clear Fork’s Isaac Ute right from the very outset. Ute turned the North’s first possession of the game into a disaster, ringing up to a sack and a fumble recovery on his first two plays on defense. His outstanding play at tackle, right through to the end, earned him the award for defensive player of the game. Ironically, although Ute excelled, defensive tackle is not his normal spot.
“To be honest this is the first time that I’ve played defense in three years,” admitted Ute. “At Clear Fork, I’ve always been more of an asset as an offensive lineman. I’m just glad I got a chance to show what I can do on defense. I also wanted to impress Mount Union. I’ll be up there in the fall.”
Ute, who hurt his hamstring last year, wants to be a trainer.
“Dean Taylor, who works at Mohican Rehabilitation in Mount Vernon, worked with me real closely and got me back a lot sooner than we expected,” said Ute. “That’s what put me on the path to be an athletic trainer.”
The South converted on the Ute fumble recovery with a 40-yard field goal, by Mitchell Phillips of Colonel Crawford to put the South ahead early, 3-0.
