TERRE HAUTE –– A handful of recent Lawrence County graduates traveled across the river to put on the pads and hit the gridiron one last time over the weekend at the annual Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association All-Star Game in Terre Haute.

The 18th annual event was held at Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium and featured five players from Lawrence County among the 90-plus players that took part in the event.

Three players from Lawrenceville – Brenyn Winningham, Ryan Schultz and Bryce Bedwell – represented the Gold Division, while a pair of Red Hill players – Andrew Maxfield and Ben Stimler – suited up for the Black Division team.
As for the game as a whole, the Black Division went on to win 36-12, as they built a 14-0 lead in the middle of the second quarter and cruised to the victory.

Sullivan’s William Newby opened the scoring with a 68-yard touchdown run at the 8:10 mark of the first quarter to give Black a 6-0 lead, then Indian Creek’s Aidan Neathery scored on a seven-yard run at the 7:14 mark of the second quarter and Terre Haute North’s Sammy Saunders caught the two-point conversion pass from Neathery to give Black a 14-0 lead.

Gold would then get on the scoreboard, as Casey-Westfield’s Aden Brenton tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Noble Johnson of Parke Heritage to close the gap to 14-6 with 4:33 left in the first half. However, Black scored again right before halftime, as Northview’s Braxton Sampson and Dillon White connected for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds remaining, then White completed the two-point conversion pass to Mattoon’s Derrius White to give Black a 22-6 lead at halftime.

Black scored again in the middle of the third quarter to make the score 30-6 following a six-yard touchdown run by Northview’s Donavin Cherry and a two-point pass from Neathery to Northview’s Vinny Bonomo, then Gold scored late in the third, when Winningham scored on a quarterback keeper from one yard out to finish a 13-play, 64-yard drive and make the score 30-12 with 34 seconds left in the period

Black then tacked on another score late, as Dillon White completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Newby at the 7:17 mark of the fourth quarter to provide the final points of the night.

Winningham had the best night statistically for the Lawrence County contingent, as he split time on offense for Gold between quarterback and running back. Winningham completed two of three passes for 17 yards, ran nine times for a team-high 29 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for seven yards.

Schultz also played offense, spending time at the tight end/H-back position, including being on the field lead blocking for Winningham’s touchdown run.

Bedwell played defense for Gold, but did not record any statistics, while Stimler and Maxfield also played defense for Black, as well as on special teams, with Stimler recording one tackle.