It might not have been the high-scoring affair fans are used to seeing in all-star football games, but last week’s Lehigh Valley McDonald’s All-Star Classic featured a game that came down to the wire with plenty of big plays on both sides.

The Gold team, made up mostly of players from Northampton and Monroe county teams, held off a late charge from the Red team (Lehigh County) to come away with a 21-20 win.

“It’s an honor to be part of the game, especially that it’s a game for charity,” said Parkland placekicker Gryffin Mitstifer. “It’s for a good cause. Very happy to be here.”

He said while the goal was to get a win on the scoreboard, nearly everyone walks away from the annual game a winner.

“Always want to win,” said Mitstifer, who will continue his career at Millersville University. “On the field you want to win but at the end of the day we’re all hugging it out. I see players who I’m going to college with from different sides. It’s all for the fun and for the charity.”

The Gold team went ahead 13-0 in the second quarter before the Red made a comeback.

Will Aviles (Bethlehem Catholic) caught his first of two touchdown passes in the game in the first quarter. He hauled in a 30-yard pass from Eric Striba (Bangor) to give his team a 6-0 lead on its first possession of the game.

The Gold defense forced two turnovers and two punts on Red’s first four drives before the Gold offense made it 13-0 with 2:25 left in the first half when Saucon Valley quarterback Travis Reifenstahl broke free for a 5-yard run.

When Red got the ball back it scored on its first play from scrimmage as Christopher found Tylik Jarvis (Emmaus) wide open for a 92-yard catch and run. Gryffin Mitstifer (Parkland) hit the extra point to get his team within 13-7 at halftime.

After defenses dominated most of the third quarter, Gold put together a 14-play drive capped by Aviles’ 13-yard touchdown catch from Striba for a 21-7 lead with 17 seconds left in the first half.

The Red team made it close with touchdowns on its final two drives of the game.

Christopher connected with Noah Ozario (Dieruff) on a 30-yard touchdown that got Red within 21-14 with 8:06 left in the game.

Mitstifer and his teammates executed a successful onside kick to get the ball back.

Eight plays into the drive Christopher scampered three yards for a score, but a failed two-point conversion left the Red down 21-20 with 3:13 left on the game clock.

An unsuccessful onside kick and a couple Gold first downs ended the game.

Joining Mitstifer in the game were Parkland teammates Nakhi Bullock and Victor Pagan, who was continuing a family legacy by playing in the game.

“I was really excited,” Pagan said of finding out he earned a spot in the game. “I get to strap it up one more time and play high school football with my friends.

“My dad played in it. We set a goal coming into my senior season that this is what we wanted to do.”

Pagan’s father, also Victor, played high school football at Northwestern Lehigh. The younger Pagan is headed to Muhlenberg College to continue his career. He was happy to get to play with his Trojan teammates one last time.

“It was great,” Pagan said. “Seeing my guys for the last time. We’re all going to different schools now.”

Bullock is headed to Millersville to continue his football career.