BEAVER FALLS -- Last summer, Nick Henderson could only dream of the way his senior year could be. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Rochester's Chris Hayes tackle Ohio's Mitch Davidson during the Penn-Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. <\/p>\n
Seneca Valley's Hank Royal fumbles the ball during the Penn-Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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 <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Pennsylvania's defense lines up against Ohio's offense during the Penn-Ohio Football Classic on Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Rochester's Chris Hayes tackle Ohio's Mitch Davidson during the Penn-Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. <\/p>\n
Seneca Valley's Hank Royal fumbles the ball during the Penn-Ohio all star football game Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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 <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Pennsylvania's defense lines up against Ohio's offense during the Penn-Ohio Football Classic on Thursday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. <\/p>\n
Hendersons trip to the end zone, though, didnt give Pennsylvania the win. It just set up the chance to win or tie. <\/p>\n
After a timeout, Pennsylvania went for the win. It didnt happen, but nobody was second-guessing the decision. <\/p>\n
Everybody was yelling to go for two, said Henderson, although Pennsylvania coach Joe Lamenza of Blackhawk had already made up his mind. <\/p>\n
You dont play for overtime in an all-star game. <\/p>\n
Henderson has a little time to reflect on the impressive way his senior year turned out. Hell return to his other love baseball next week. <\/p>\n
I told my Legion coach (at Ambridge) that Id be missing a week or two, but Ill be back now, said Henderson. This was an awesome experience and if I hadnt played, Id have missed a great experience. I still have a month off from football before I have to report to Westminster on Aug. 10. <\/p>\n
Hell play both football and baseball for the Titans. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Follow this link: <\/p>\n
Freedom's Nick Henderson caps off senior year with MVP in Penn-Ohio Classic - Timesonline.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BEAVER FALLS -- Last summer, Nick Henderson could only dream of the way his senior year could be. Continue reading