Big block by Hundred's Ayden Britton in the OVAC All-Star Game.

The 2024 Rudy Mumley 78th All-Star Football Game lived up to its billing on Saturday night as the two squads from West Virginia and Ohio took to the field and put on a good display of hard hitting and fast paced ball to excite the nearly overflow crowd and keep them on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The contest played under the OVAC rules of no overtime, and that’s the way it ended as the teams battled back and forth with the lead changing twice during the night on the way to a 13-13 game ending tie with no overtime in the OVAC championship contest.

The Ohio team led by River’s Kabel Isaly who played the entire game on both sides of the ball, quickly got on the board as they took the game’s opening kickoff and moved down field on a series of passing and running plays. They picked up a first down on their first possession and were facing a 2nd and nine from the 44 when Isaly threw a strike to St. Clairsville receiver Cole Thoburn for a 34 yard score. The extra point kick split the upright and the score stood at 7-0 with 2:40 left in the first quarter.

West Virginia would come right back however and move the ball down field with a strong running attack that moved the ball to the 2-yard line where Brooke’s Gavin Moore would run off tackle into the end zone. The kick was good and at the four minute mark of the game it was tied at 7-7. Following the score, an official timeout was taken so they could honor the 1974 team and cheerleaders for the 50th reunion. This brought a nice round of applause from the crowd as some of the old time favorites took to the field once again. Some still looked to be in game shape.

The game then resumed with both teams struggling on offense. Interceptions by both squads turned the momentum, however neither was able to put any more points on the board in the first half and the teams went into the locker room knotted up 7-7.

The Queen of Queen contest took place and the McDonald’s All-Star Band put on a terrific performance during the break. Kids from all over the valley and nearly every OVAC school was represented during game night.

Following the halftime activities, the teams took to the field to once again looking for a victory, however points were hard to come by, until West Virginia recovered a fumble midway through the 3rd quarter and took it 62 yards to the house, the point after failed and the score read 13-7 WV.

River took the next kickoff and moved the ball to the 35 yard line before the WV All-Stars defense tightened up to stop the attack. Neither team posed much of a scoring threat the rest of the quarter and at the end of three the West Virginia side had the lead.

The fourth quarter was more defense for both teams and it looked like West Virginia might run out the clock, however Ohio’s Isaly wasn’t through yet as he got another chance with around four minutes to play and led his team to another score by connecting with a receiver for a 24 yard strike in the corner of the end zone to tie the game. The extra point kick failed and the score stood at 13-13.

Both teams got two more chances, however neither squad good dent the board and the game officially ended tied at 13.

West Virginia got quality playing time from Paden City’s Joey Baker who played mostly on special teams and ended with a solo tackle and a couple nice blocks. Hundred’s Ayden Britton played on the offensive line and had four or five key blocks, including providing good protection for the kicker on extra point attempts. Hunter Goddard and Aydin Lynch both stood out on the line with key blocks and a couple tackles. For River, Kaden Johnson had a good game while Kabel Isaly played nearly the entire game at QB and a good bit of time at DB. He accounted for both of Ohio’s scores connecting with his receivers on scoring strikes. Isaly was named the Ohio side player of the game.

Ohio was 1-16 passing all by Isaly for 133 yards and two TD’s. West Virginia was 11-19 for 105 yards and two interceptions. The Ohio team had 171 yards rushing on 35 carries while WV picked up 106 yards on 21 totes. Ohio ended with 15 first downs to 11 for WV. Both teams lost two fumbles. Ohio had six penalties for 65 yards and WV HAD had five for 30 yards.