CLINTON – The North All-Stars controlled Thursday’s Bernard Blackwell All-Star Football Classic for the better part of three quarters.

The South managed to squeeze in a couple of big plays, though, and along with one epic drive that was enough to control the scoreboard.

Wesson quarterback Micah Davis threw for 144 yards and a touchdown, and ran for another, game-clinching score late in the fourth quarter, as the South earned a come-from-behind 21-13 win over the North at Mississippi College.

&#8220We came out slow but we finished strong,” said former Hinds AHS star Derrick Steele, who played free safety for the South. &#8220Our defensive coordinator had a speech for us at halftime. He had some motivating words. He was yelling at everybody.”

Davis hooked up with Brandon’s Demario Davis for an 83-yard TD pass in the second quarter, and Demario Davis had a 45-yard reception on a wide receiver pass in the third to set up another score and help the South rally from a 13-0 deficit.

Micah Davis then led the South on a 19-play, 74-yard drive that lasted most of the fourth quarter. He capped it with a 6-yard run that made it 21-13 with 47 seconds to play, all but sealing the win.

Two personal fouls on the North’s final drive moved the ball just past midfield. A desperation pass by North quarterback Brandon Hollins was intercepted at the goal line by Harrison Central’s Lamarcus Gibson.

North coach Mike Ray, of Calhoun City, said his coaching staff had considered letting the South score earlier to have more time for a game-tying drive. There is no overtime in the all-star game.

&#8220We had talked about it. We should’ve let them go on in because if they get a first down they can kneel it and the game’s over. But I’m happy we got the ball back and had a shot at it,” Ray said.

The North dominated the game for nearly three quarters, but had little to show for it.

After forcing the South to punt on the game’s opening possession, the North embarked on a 17-play, 88-yard drive that lasted nearly eight minutes. Former Provine star and Hinds Community College signee Anton Taylor finished it off with a 3-yard TD run on third-and-goal. It was the fourth third down the North converted on the drive.

The extra point was no good, but the North soon got another chance to add to its lead. South quarterback Antione Agee fumbled on the ensuing possession, and the North recovered at the South 18-yard line. Taylor scored from one yard out four plays later and Parker Ware added the extra point to make it 13-0.

The South battled back, though, with the help of South Delta’s Garrett Williams, who rushed for 46 yards on his first four carries of the second half to set up a score. He finished with 29 yards rushing.

&#8220I was down a little bit, and my teammates told me to do better. They blocked for me and I picked it up,” Williams said. &#8220They told me to do my thing. (Taylor) got hurt – he popped his shoulder out – and I had to step it up.”

Williams’ fifth carry of the drive ended in disaster, though. He fumbled on second-and-goal from the 9, and Hollins recovered it for a 14-yard loss. Two more plays went nowhere, and Ware missed a 35-yard field goal attempt wide left.