Cardinals win the West Virginia North-South Football Classic in historic overtime

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Some of West Virginia’s best high school football players met at Black Eagles Stadium to compete in the historic All Star showdown between the North Bears and the South Cardinals.

A defensive first half was followed by a back and forth before the Cardinals held off the Bears at a goal line stand for a 21 – 20 victory in overtime.

The action began with the Cardinals on offense but it wasn’t long before the Bears were back in possession. Dylan Ours of Fairmont Senior made some progress up the field before being knocked out of bounds.

North made it to the red zone but were bested by the Cardinals’ defense after an incomplete pass when the Bears were 4th & Goal.

The Bears tested the Cardinals’ defense, but the game remained scoreless going into the second quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, University’s Luke Hudson was able to evade two tackles to make a flick to Landon Frey of North Marion for a first down before Malachi Stromile of Weir High School was able to advance the ball past the 30-yard-line with a quick-footed run.

A Cardinals foul moved the Bears closer to the goal line. The penalty set up a scoring play for Ours, putting the Bears on the scoreboard.

After a field goal conversion, South attempted to make it downfield but was beat by the clock as the game went to half time.

At the half, the Bears led the Cardinals with nine first downs to the South’s one, with 78 rushing yards and 41 passing yards. The Bears also led in time of possession and had no penalties.

The Cardinals were able to tie up the game with a huge 55-yard pass from Mingo Central’s Chris Ross to BJ Williams of Clay County.

The South then took the lead after Matt Frye of Scott unleashed RJ Hairston of Bluefield for a 67-yard touchdown, but The North quickly came back to tie things up with a 50-yard pass from Hudson to Ours.

For only the third time in the classic’s history, the game then went into overtime. The South Cardinals went ahead 21-14 but the South Bears got a touchdown soon after.

The Bears lined up but were unable to convert the two points against the Cardinals defense, securing 21 to 20 victory.

You can catch the full game below.