Freedom’s Nick Henderson caps off senior year with MVP in Penn-Ohio Classic – Timesonline.com

BEAVER FALLS -- Last summer, Nick Henderson could only dream of the way his senior year could be.

Entering his senior year at Freedom, he had yet to contribute in a playoff game. And, while his individual performance had been good, not many had noticed under the circumstances.

But during the football season, he set Freedoms career receiving record and the Bulldogs not only made the playoffs but won a game. In baseball, his team made the WPIAL championship game and the PIAA playoffs.

Freedom's Nick Henderson scored his second touchdown of the game with less than 30 seconds left to bring Pennsylvania to within a point, but the two-point conversion failed and Pennsylvania lost 21-20 in the 38th annual Penn-Ohio All-Star Football Classic.

Thursday night, he capped his senior year by earning Most Valuable Offensive Player honors for Pennsylvania in the 38th annual Penn-Ohio All-Star Football Classic at Geneva. He caught five passes for 77 yards, including the first and last touchdown for his squad. The first was 43 yards and the last 12.

His last catch of the game came with 29.8 seconds left that cut the margin to 21-20 Ohio. That marked the end to a 69-yard, 13-play drive that converted a third-and-24 situation and a fourth-and-20 play, and Hendersons scoring catch was a fourth-and-5 conversion.

We were all beat in the huddle on that last drive but we knew we had a chance to score with Amos (Quaker Valley quarterback Luptak) running around back there, Henderson said. On the TD pass, I really only ran about half the pattern I was supposed to and just found a hole.

There was no one even close to covering me. When I caught the ball, I sort of hunched over expecting to get hit but I didnt, so I got in the end zone.

Quaker Valley graduate Amos Luptak, right, runs out of the grasp of Ohio's Nathan Daniszwski during the Penn- Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. Ohio won the game, 21-20.

Beaver Te'Vierre Williams is knocked backward as he runs the ball during the Penn- Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

Central Valley's Ryan Turkall walks off the field after the Pa. stars fell to Ohio, 21-20, in the Penn-Ohio all-star game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

Eric Hudanick of Seneca Valley walks off the field after the Pennsylvania stars lost to Ohio, 21-20, in the Penn-Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

OLSH's Markus Jenkins reacts after the Pennsylvania squad lost to Ohio, 21-20, in the Penn-Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

Fort Cherry's Devon Brown makes an over-the-shoulder catch as Ohio's Michael Shope defends during the Penn- Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

Te'Vierre Williams, left, of Beaver and New Brighton's R.J. Debo walk off the field after Ohio scored a touchdown during the Penn-Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

Rochester's Chris Hayes tackle Ohio's Mitch Davidson during the Penn-Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

Seneca Valley's Hank Royal fumbles the ball during the Penn-Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

Rochester's Ian Kouba tries to run for a two-point conversion that would have won the game against Ohio in the Penn- Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. Ohio won, 21-20.

Beaver's Micah Weaver pulls in a pass for a first down during the Penn- Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

West Allegheny's Joey Diven can't make a catch in the end zone for the Pennsylvania squad during thePenn-Ohio Football Classic Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. Ohio won the game, 21-20

Ohio's Nathan Daniszewski runs with the ball as Pennsylvania player and Rochester graduate Ian Kouba (17) tries to run him down during thePenn-Ohio Football Classic Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

Ohio's Jason Thompson runs with the ball as Pennsylvania player and Blackhawk graduate Carl Jaszcar (44) pulls him down during thePenn-Ohio Football Classic Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

Pennsylvania's defense lines up against Ohio's offense during the Penn-Ohio Football Classic on Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.