A series of smart plays by Colby Nyhan opened the scoring in Friday’s CHaD East-West All-Star Football Game, his last in a Concord High uniform. Nyhan scored the night’s first touchdown with a 19-yard QB run up the middle and made the extra point as a kicker to lead the West to a 13-7 win over the East in Manchester.

Nyhan, a track and field commit to Bryant University, was named Most Valuable Player of the game and said afterward that he might have to reconsider not playing football. Whether it was a joke or not is yet to be seen.

“A win is awesome. I don’t know about (not playing football). This might change my mind. It’s pretty fun,” he said after the game and hoisting his MVP trophy.

“Just like the camaraderie, the team love, just everybody’s here to support each other, and it’s awesome,” added Nyhan of what he gets from playing football.

The 13th annual edition of the New Hampshire high school all-star game, benefitting the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth and the Hitchcock Medical Center’s children’s hospital, kicked off under the Friday night lights in Manchester.

Nyhan was one of six local seniors participating in the game, all of whom played for the West squad.

The annual event has raised over $3 million over the last 13 years through donations and fundraising by corporate sponsors, players, spirit team members and other community leaders. The six area players collectively raised $3,248, with Merrimack Valley’s Michael Heine bringing in $1,251 for the cause.

“I have a little cousin who actually went to a school like this over on the West Coast, and I just reached out to my family,” Heine said. “It meant a lot to us. So (that) we bonded together and raised some money for this school is great.”

The game brought together some of New Hampshire’s best graduating high school football players and divided them into two teams to duke it out for the title of best side of Route 3. The crowd was energized as families and friends from around the state gathered in support of their hometown stars.

John Stark linebacker Joseph Dykstra was crucial on the defensive side for the West alongside Nyhan, who played strong safety. Dykstra finished with night with nine tackles and Nyhan added seven.

Heine started strong as a blocking tight end and, on defense, sacked East quarterback Jeremy Mlocek to force a punt. Heine erupted with a huge reception to pick up 30 yards in the fourth quarter and keep the West moving downfield. He ended the night with 39 yards to lead the team.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Pride’s Reece Clermont had four rushes for eight yards. His usual offensive linemen, Ryan Monaghan and Travis Garcia, weren’t in the game to block for him when he ran, but each stood ready to go in at any moment.

Heine will continue playing football for Plymouth State in the fall and was elated to get one last win with his teammates.

“I’m gonna miss all my coaches, my guys. It was great having a bond with them, building it for so many years. It’s been great, but I’m off to a new chapter in my life,” he said.

Alexander Rapp can be reached at arapp@cmonitor.com.