All-Star Football Classic on tap

Saturday's 11th annual South-Central All-Star Football Classic gives 16 local seniors one last time to buckle their chin straps and wear their school's jerseys.

Avon Park coach Andy Bonjokian is the head coach of the Central squad, which includes players from Avon Park, Bartow, Frostproof, Haines City, Hardee, Lake Placid, Lake Wales, Sebring and Mulberry.

"I'm real excited about getting to coach a team as talented as the Central squad," said Bonjokian. "Practice has been a real treat this week being around the players and working with the local coaches.

"All of these players are talented and fast and they're excited about getting a chance to wear their jerseys one final time in a big game."

The All-Star Classic selects the best seniors from the rural areas of Central and South Florida to converge on Sebring to showcase their talents one final time in front of family, friends and college coaches.

The South-Central All-Star Classic, which is presented by the Sebring Firemen Inc., is set for 5 p.m. Saturday at Firemen's Field, and the Central team is looking to get back on the winning track after the South won last year's contest by a score of 29-13.

"This is going to be a great game and I'm happy for all the players because they will make friends from this game that will last a lifetime," Bonjokian said. "This is something that they will be able to talk about when they get old."

Local players on the Central team from Avon Park are linebacker Dwayne Council, wide receiver David Callahan, lineman David Edmundson and defensive lineman Erroll Nicholson.

Lake Placid is represented by tailback Caleb Jones, defensive end Taylor Price, fullback Navahri Holden, linebacker Zach Reynolds, lineman Alex Vega and punter/place-kicker Stephen Guelff.

Sebring players on the Central squad are wide receiver Michael Grimes, tailback Daniel Burnett, defensive back CJ Massaline, lineman Tevin Toney, defensive end Gus Williams and lineman Michael Hankerson.

"This is a great group of players and coaches to work with," said Bonjokian. "The players are the best in the area and they pick things up very quickly. We've been able to put in quite a few things on offense because they're so smart and we're looking forward to a great game."

The South squad is comprised of seniors from Charlotte, Lemon Bay, LaBelle, Moore Haven, North Port and Port Charlotte.

The Central team has been practicing this week at Firemen's Field and Bonjokian thinks his squad is primed to have a big game against a talented South team.

"The biggest thing I've noticed over the last few years is the speed level of this game has gone up," Bonjokian said. "The players are faster and the collisions are pretty intense. It's a tribute to the kids that they're able to learn a new system in less than a week and they're all-stars for a reason."

11th annual South-Central All-Star Football Classic

WHERE: At Firemen's Field, Sebring

WHEN: Saturday at 5 p.m.

LOCAL PLAYERS

AVON PARK Dwayne Council, David Callahan, David Edmundson, Erroll Nicholson.

LAKE PLACID Caleb Jones, Taylor Price, Navahri Holden, Zach Reynolds, Alex Vega, Stephen Guelff.

SEBRING Michael Grimes, Daniel Burnett, CJ Massaline, Tevin

Toney, Gus Williams, Michael Hankerson.