ANDERSON — As high school seniors, Mt. Vernon’s Sam Mackall and New Palestine’s Tucker Keevers combined to block for approximately 4,319 rushing yards in 2020.
In their final prep football game as offensive linemen on Friday night, the Hancock County duo had a hand in 174 more.
Named South All-Stars for the 55th Annual IFCA North/South Football All Star Classic at Anderson University’s Macholtz Stadium, Mackall and Keevers opened the evening as starters and helped pave the way during a decisive 45-7 victory over the North.
The South rushed for three touchdowns, 174 net yards, passed for 102 yards and converted three turnovers, including a blocked punt and field goal, into scores to end the North’s winning streak at five games.
“We talked about it all week long, how it’d been six years and I believe only one in the last eight that the South had won,” Mackall said. “Going into the game, (the North) were talking. They looked a lot bigger than us, which was one thing we were concerned about, but we came out and played physically and with heart.”
The last time the South beat the North was in 2014 by a 30-2 margin. Prior to its previous win, the South had claimed victory three times at four straight (2011-14), and without a game in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest win was long overdue.
“It was a really special. I had a great time. I got to meet all these wonderful people from all these other schools. It felt so good to come together with all of them and win this game,” Keevers said. “It’s just awesome.”
The victory also added to the South’s all-time series lead, which now stands at 28-26, since the first installment in 1967. The South won the inaugural contest, 15-14.
The Tyler Roth Memorial Most Valuable Player, Covenant Christian running back Micah Wilson, made certain the South would rise again. Wilson rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns, including runs of 25 and 63 yards (on his final score) to put the game away.
Wilson’s final rushing touchdown made it 45-7 with 7 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to cap a 98-yard, five-play drive from the South’s own 37-yard line.
“It really ties everything together. It was a nice little final culmination with my high school games right before I go on, and it was the last time I was playing O-line. I’m playing D-line in college, so it’s a nice little finale,” Keevers said. “My final play as an O-lineman was a touchdown, so that was fun.”
Keevers is heading to the University of Indianapolis this fall where he will play for his father and new head football coach Chris Keevers.
Chris Keevers spent 25 years as an assistant coach at UIndy before putting together a 9-1 first season in 2019 as head coach. The Greyhounds made an appearance in the NCAA D-II playoffs, marking the program’s sixth postseason advancement in eight years. The Greyhounds won the GLVC Championship in 2020.
“I’m so excited. It feels really good that I get to spend four more years with (my dad),” Keevers said. “I’ll remember this for the rest of my life. It’s a great experience. So much fun, and it felt great to represent New Pal, one more time.”
A two-year starter for the Dragons, Keevers was part of the team’s Class 5A state title run in 2019, blocking for Indiana Mr. Football and the state’s all-time career rushing leader Charlie Spegal.
In the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the Dragons were a combined 22-2 with Keevers as a starter.
For Mackall, winning on the gridiron became a result of taking the initiative.
In his first year as a high school football player, Mackall earned a starting spot on the line, and on Friday night, he logged time at left tackle with Keevers at right guard.
“(In 2019), I went to Mt. Vernon’s semistate game against Evansville Memorial, and we had coach (Mike) Kirschner, of course, so that was the main reason I decided to come out, and I had blast,” Mackall said. “Now, I’m going to Kent State to walk on.”
A preferred walk-on, Mackall called his senior year of high school a dream.
The Class 4A Marauders finished the 2020 regular season a perfect 9-0 and claimed the Hoosier Heritage Conference title for the first time since 2012, ending New Palestine’s stronghold on the traveling helmet trophy and the Boundary Rail.
The Marauders earned the state’s top-ranking in the coaches and The Associated Press polls in 2020, while the program rolled to back-to-back sectional titles, a first for the school. The team finished this past season with a record of 12-1.
“It was a fun year. I didn’t play all four years, but it was a blast,” Mackall said. “To do all of that, and being an All-Star, all in one year was very shocking. Shocked is the only word I can use.”
Friday night’s win was the icing, as the South went up 38-0 before the North responded with a 27-yard passing touchdown to Merrilleville’s Marcus Hardy from South Adams’ James Arnold late in the third quarter.
South’s Ryan Dickenson of Centerville returned an interception for 20 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter to give his team a 7-0 lead.
Carmel’s Spencer Hanna converted a 23-yard field goal to put the South ahead 10-0 in the first quarter.
Wilson’s first score made it 17-0 in the second before a Blake Ritzert’s (Mount Vernon Posey) blocked punt returned 9 yards for a touchdown and a Maddix Blackwell blocked field goal returned for 72 yards pushed the lead to 31-0.
Cathedral’s Jake Langdon increased the South’s lead to 38-0 with a 19-yard run in the third quarter.
“I’ve actually been (at Kent State) the past couple of weeks, and then came home to represent my school, which means a lot to me,” Mackall said. “This was a lot of fun.”
