Published: July 23, 2008 09:55 am         

Evans, North victorious over South

CLINTON — It was hot on the surface of Robinson-Hale Stadium on Thursday night, but it must have seemed pretty cool to former Kosciusko High School standout Josh Evans.

The defensive lineman, who helped lead the North team to a 16-7 win over the South in the 59th Annual Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic, has faced much more heat this summer.

"I worked this summer for Entergy checking meters out in the heat," said Evans with a laugh. "That's how I got into shape with all of that walking."

The 6-foot-1, 285-pound Evans played well on the interior line for the North last week, and now hopes that hard work will translate into success on the next level.

After originally signing with the University of West Alabama, Evans said that he will play for Holmes Community College next season. "I am going to Holmes," Evans said. "All of my teammates will be there and I will be able to stay close to my family and everything."

Evans said that he expected to get a chance to start at nose guard at HCC.

The North used a stout defense, which forced five turnovers, to control the tempo for much of the night.

One of them was a game changer, as Bud Barksdale of South Panola stepped in front of a floater and raced 52 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.

The kick made it 7-0.

The next score of the game came on the second-half's opening drive, as the North used a good kick-off return to set up a 5-yard scoring run by Alvin Ellis. The kick failed, leaving the score at 13-0.

The South got back into the game to cut it to 13-7 when Cedric Blanks hauled in a 23-yard scoring pass from Emil Jones with 9:59 left to play in the game.

"It was a post," Blanks said. "I came in the middle of the field open and I saw the safety drop and I just squeezed in right behind him and it was there."

The touchdown came on a third-and-21 play. It appeared that Blanks was covered, but somehow he made the grab.

Blanks said he didn't know whether he was the first, second or third option for Jones, and it really didn't matter.

"I don't know, I just know he found me," Blanks said. "I just ran as hard as I could and he found me."

The touchdown drive was set up by a fumble recovery by Jerry Wallace of Southeast Lauderdale. The extra-point kick by Andrew Rose cut the North lead to six points.

The South defense held, but a mix-up on the punt resulted in a blocked kick and the North taking over in good field position. The winners converted on the miscue when Tyler Turner was good on a field goal from 38 yards out to make it 16-7.

The South looked like it had gotten back into the game just moments later when Bobby Felder of McComb High School hauled in a short pass and broke it for an apparent 84-yard touchdown play.

However, just as Felder was diving into the end zone an official trailing the play tossed a flag around midfield for a clip. That penalty, plus a 15-yard against the South for unsportsmanlike conduct almost brought the ball back to original line of scrimmage.

The South really couldn't challenge again.

Barksdale was named the Defensive MVP of the game, while Felder won offensive MVP honors, hauling in six passes for 108 yards, excluding the 84-yarder that was called back.

The South now leads the Series 26-25-1.