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Seniors Michael Pietropola, Nick Marple, Kieron Smethers, and Nick Levindoski finished their high school football careers at the 25th annual District IV North-South All-Star football game on Friday, June 26.

The four Wellsboro seniors made an impact in the game as Pietropola scored two touchdowns. Smethers was the North’s offensive MVP, and Marple was the game’s MVP as he intercepted two passes on the night and had five tackles to help the North squad win, 34-30.

The South scored early, but Smethers blocked the extra point attempt, to take an early 6-0 lead. South Williamsport’s John Peters would break free on a long run late in the quarter to tie the game up at six. Pietropola scored from three yards out with 2:54 to put the North squad up 13-6 following the extra point. The South wasted little time and tied the game up at 13-13 on a long touchdown pass with 1:21 left in the first half, and would take a 16-13 lead at the break as they converted a field goal as time expired.

Smethers gave the North a 20-16 lead with 7:38 remaining in the third quarter as he caught a deep pass from Jersey Shore’s Logan English. In the fourth quarter, Pietropola connected with North Penn’s Bryce Zaparzynski on a long pass to go up 27-16 with 5:39 remaing. Both teams would trade touchdowns but the North held on for the 34-30 victory.

Pietropola finished 4-for-9 for 95 yards and a touchdown through the air to go along with 69 yards rushing and a touchdown on 11 carries. Smethers caught four passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, and Levindoski added one tackle on defense.

North head coach Matt Hildebrand was very pleased with both his team’s performance and the way his four seniors played.

“The teams played great games tonight. All-Star game aren’t traditionally this close and this game hasn’t been this close for the past few years. Both teams fought to the very end and the fans saw a great game,” Hildebrand said. “I’m very proud of how the team came out and played tonight. They had a great week of practice and really gelled. That isn’t the case with every all-star team as most of these kids have been enemies for the past four years but we were able to come together and they just did a great job, it was a great week, and I really enjoyed it.”