Fant Shows He Belongs With Grid Greats at North-South All-Star Game

For Madison’s Aaron Fant, Monday's 33rd Annual North-South All-Star Football Classic at Kean University was a great test of his skills heading to the next level, as both rosters were filled with players who will compete on the gridiron in college.

While Fant's North squad dropped a heartbreaker, 21-14, sealed by a fourth quarter interception returned for a touchdown by Hammonton's Jared Sanchez, the Dodger senior passed his test with flying colors as he grabbed six balls for over 50 yards.

“It was amazing,” said Fant after the game. “The three days of practice, playing against the best in north Jersey and then playing in the game today. It’s a whole lot faster than actual high school games because everybody’s fast and everybody’s an athlete.

"It prepares me a whole lot, because a lot of these guys are going to Division 1-A and Division 1-AA schools, so I feel like I can compete at the level that I’m going to and I’m going to try and start my freshman year.”

Fant will enroll at Franklin & Marshall College in the fall.

Despite regularly evading the South coverages throughout the entire first half, North quarterback Matt Soltes struggled to get the ball to Fant, going in his direction only once, for a 17-yard gain.

“It’s hard for the quarterbacks to see you sometimes,” Fant explained. “You feel like you’re wide open, but you just have to keep playing. You can’t be frustrated with one play.”

And with Dodger Nation in full force in the stands, Fant would emerge as a go-to guy in the second half, catching five passes, including three in the fourth quarter.

Fant also drew a pass interference call in the end zone late in the second half, giving the North squad a chance to jump out in front for the first time in the half.

But the North wouldn’t be able to capitalize, failing to find the end zone on three consecutive tries, and eventually missing a field goal from the 14-yard line.

“I’m very proud of my son and I’m very honored that he was able to be a part of this event,” said Fant's father, Corlus. “His teammates back at home, it was a collective effort to win the state championship and any one of his teammates could have been on this team.”