South wins an emotional Agganis Football Classic

LYNN – Showing off its strong running attack, the South used the triumvirate of Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem), Chris Beranger (Winthrop) and Rashad Sims (Beverly) to turn a 20-7 halftime deficit into a thrilling 28-20 triumph last night in the 49th annual Agganis Football Classic, before a crowd of 2,137 at Manning Field.Click here for a photo gallery.The trio teamed for 272 yards and all four scores, while Van Alstyne earned MVP honors on the basis of his 106 yards (on eight carries) and two touchdowns. Quarterback Corey Spencer was named North MVP for his passing totals (5-10-87, one TD).The game was dedicated in honor of former Lynn mayor Pat McManus, who passed away on Friday. McManus played in the 1972 contest, representing Lynn English, and was an Agganis scholarship award winner. He also served as one of the game’s trustees during his time as mayor.The South didn’t waste any time in marching downfield when it received the second-half kickoff. The team began its possession at its 24, and Beranger (10-114) picked up a first down to the 38 on a 14-yard burst. After a loss of two, Beranger ran through open yardage for 26 yards to put the team at the North 38. Two plays later, Van Alstyne gained 19 yards, dragging a couple of North defenders along for a couple of those yards. Quarterback Jesse Fowler (English) brought the team to the 4, cutting along the near sidelines before being forced out of bounds. Sims (7-52) cut over from the left side, and made it just inside the near pylon to bring the South to within 20-14.The North couldn’t do any damage when it gained the ball for its first second-half possession. Newburyport’s Joe Clancy, punting from his own 35, got one off the side of his foot, with the South taking over at the North’s 43. Once again it was Beranger who picked up matters. On third-and-eight from the 41, he broke through for seven yards to the 34. He got the ball on the following play, appeared to be stopped in the backfield, bounced off North linemen, and ran down the far sidelines and into the end zone to give the South the lead for good, 21-20.”We were able to spread the ball around,” said Gloucester’s Paul Ingram, who directed the South. “We used the sweep and the trap, and we just moved the ball around to our backs. Our offensive line was very good.”The North was forced to punt the ball away on its final possession of the third quarter, and the South again took advantage. Only three plays were needed before Van Alstyne notched his second score of the contest. He burst down the far sideline for 19 yards to the 29, before breaking free of the South defense on the following play for a 29-yard touchdown to increase the margin to 28-20.”We had one of the best offensive lines that I’ve played behind,” said Van Alstyne, who is headed to Bridgton Academy. “And it was good being on the same team as Chris (Beranger) and Rashad (Sims). This was a pretty good challenge for all of us.”The North attempted to get back in the game on its next drive. It was able to march out to the South 37, after a 32-yard hookup between Spencer and receiver Kevin Anderson (2-74) of Masco. Yet Spencer tried to go deep on second down, and was picked off by safety Cameron Smith (Classical).The South punted the ball away on its next series, and again it would be Smith who deflated the North’s chances. Clancy had directed his club to the North 48, yet threw the ball into double coverage, where Smith grabbed the pass at the South 20. He raced downfield to the North’s 23 to seal the game.”They had been throwing well in the first half, with the short stuff killing us,” said the Curry-bound Smith. “I read that whole play (the second interception), and I didn’t think he (Clancy) was going to go deep. I was hoping to take that one to the house.”The South opened the scoring near the end of the first quarter. Beranger brought the team into North real estate with a 22-yarder to the 38. Three plays later, Fowler gained 13 yards and a first down at the So