Four different players scored for the Section III all-star squad in its 26-0 win over the Section IV all-star team on Sunday in the annual Big 44 Ernie Davis/Floyd Little Classic at Nottingham High School.

Before the game, Deborah Little — the widow of Syracuse University football legend Floyd Little — provided a speech to Section III's all-stars and assisted with the coin toss.

Section III scored on its first possession of the game. The big play of the drive was a 32-yard connection from West Genesee quarterback Jack Wade to Westhill receiver Collin White. Section IV's defense stalled Section III's chance of getting into the endzone, but Cicero-North Syracuse's Jakob Purdy ended it with a 27-yard field goal to give Section III a 3-0 lead.  

The contest was quiet for the majority of the first half. C-NS's Owen Ellis, however, gave Section III some momentum when he returned a punt 30 yards for the touchdown. At the half, Section III had a 10-0 advantage.

Corcoran's Jeadi Higdon Jr and Bishop Ludden's Jahbari Clarke recorded back-to-back rushing scores in the second half to increase Section III's lead to 24-0. A safety rounded out the team's scoring effort.

Higdon, the game's offensive MVP, finished with 96 rushing yards. Clarke provided 51 yards on the ground.

Oneida's Austin DeGroat, the defensive MVP, anchored Section III's shutout performance with seven tackles and a sack.

"It was a fun game. I enjoyed playing in it and it was a great atmosphere," DeGroat said.

East Syracuse Minoa's Andrew LaMarche chipped in five tackles and a sack, while C-NS's Connor Bednarski and Marcus Reed II had four tackles apiece.

Paul Sealy, who coached the Section III squad on Sunday, received a special plaque to honor his 50 years of coaching high school football in the area.

"The first year to the 50th year, it's all the same," Sealy said.