Mt. Vernon head coach Vince Lidy checks to make sure he has the right players going in for a punt during the 55th IFCA North-South All-Star game at Ben Davis High School on Friday, July 15, 2022.
Rob Baker | For The Daily Reporter
INDIANAPOLIS — In November, he left the field with a state championship and the Eskew Mental Attitude Award.
In July, he left with an all-star game victory and Most Valuable Player Award.
Mt. Vernon’s Gehrig Slunaker’s right arm showed little rust in his eight months between football games.
The Marauders quarterback led the South to its only scores — both in the first half — on the way to a 14-0 victory over the North in the 55th Annual Indiana Football Coaches Association All-Star Game at Ben Davis High School, Friday.
The South leads the all-time series 29-26.
“We had seven practices (this week) and that helped me get back in shape and get back into football mode,” Slunaker said. “It was a good stepping stone going into college.”
The Mt. Vernon standout completed 14 of 21 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He also accounted for a successful pass for a two-point conversion.
“It was a lot of fun and an honor to be in this game with all the great players and the long history,” Slunaker added.
He played three of the South’s five first-half offensive series, sharing with Lawrenceburg quarterback Garrett Yoon.
Set up by a forced fumble and recovery from Carmel linebacker/safety Jackson Reece, the South took over on its own 27 with 7:01 remaining in the first quarter.
It was the South’s first offensive possession.
Slunaker looked sharp. He completed 5 of 6 passes for 58 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown to Lawrenceburg’s Dahya Patel. The drive covered seven plays and 73 yards in 2:14. The point-after was blocked.
On the South’s final series of the first half, Slunaker took over on the South 33 with only two minutes remaining until halftime.
He connected on his first four passes — giving him a stretch of seven straight completions – to get the ball to the North 16. Wide receiver Rory Heltsley of Gibson Southern was Slunaker’s favorite target. Heltsley broke away for a 31-yard gain to get to the 16. Two plays later, Slunaker and Heltsey connected for a touchdown.
Slunaker and Evansville Mater Dei wide receiver Eli McDurmon hooked up for the two-point conversion.
“We were moving quick, just telling the receivers to get out of bounds, get the clock stopped,” Slunaker said. “You take the thinking out of it and you just play. We were just having fun, enjoying the moment. We only get one game together, might as well make the most of it.”
For the first half, Slunaker was 10 of 14 for 125 yards, two touchdowns and one interceptions.
The interception came when he tried to connect with his high school teammate, running back Keagan LaBelle.
Another series set up by a North turnover, the South started on the North 14 with just 16 seconds left in the first quarter. On the first play, Slunaker looked for LaBelle in the end zone, but the ball was picked off by North inside linebacker Blake Heyerly, from Adams Central.
LaBelle was in with Slunaker in each of the first half series. Other than the intercepted pass, LaBelle served as a key blocker on the scoring plays.
In the second half, LaBelle had three carries for 15 yards.
Slunaker and LaBelle finished off their high school careers with a win. Again, they were led by Mt. Vernon head coach Vince Lidy.
Lidy played in the game in the mid-90s and was an assistant in the early 2000s. He was the head coach for the South this week. He’s 2-1 in all-star games, winning as a player and head coach.
“It was a full week,” Lidy said. “Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and a game (Friday), we got a lot in and worked them hard. You always want to win the game. They always say (in an all-star game) it doesn’t matter who wins or loses. But, when it kicks off, we’re all competitors and you want to win.”
Lidy was also glad the best in the state got to see his quarterback play at such a high level, something he was used to seeing every Friday night.
“He played out there like he prepared and played for (Mt. Vernon),” Lidy said. “He can throw the ball. He had some really good wideouts and great protection. He can make every throw for a high school kid. To shake off an interception, throw two touchdowns, and a two-point conversion, it was a culmination of his high school years. Georgetown College is going to get a good one.”
It is the fourth straight year Mt. Vernon has had players on the South team. Last year, the Marauders were represented by offensive lineman Sam Mackall. In 2020, wide receiver Dawan Langston was selected to the South team. Offensive lineman Connor Price played in the 2019 game.
Both LaBelle and Slunaker are going to NAIA schools to play college ball.
LaBelle will suit up for the Marian University Knights in Indianapolis. He is joining two others from last year’s state championship team, lineman Razhaun Wells and defensive back Avery Williams. Slunaker is bound for Georgetown, Ky., to play for the Georgetown College Tigers.
