GAINESVILLE -- Typically the high school football campaign ends the first week in December, but the 2013 season has been extended in Gainesville-Hall County for the inaugural East-West Classic, an all-star game coordinated by Gainesville/Hall County Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The first-ever East-West Classic, presented by Wells Fargo, will be held Friday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m. on Bobby Gruhn Field at Gainesville's City Park.
According to FCA Area Director Jason Lester, the game will feature two teams comprised of football players from 10 area high schools. East Hall coach Bryan Gray will coach the "East" team, while Chestatee coach Stan Luttrell will guide the "West" squad.
Teams will comprise 35 players each -- two quarterbacks, three running backs, three receivers, two tight ends, seven offensive linemen, six defensive linemen, four linebackers, six defensive backs, one kicker and one punter. Five senior players will be selected by each school, with the remaining spots to be filled by the best players available.
Full team rosters will be selected and announced by the participating schools' head coaches on Nov. 15.
There will also be an all-star senior marching band -- selected from all 10 schools -- performance at half-time and all-star cheerleading squads.
Lester notes that the game is another way of fulfilling the mission of FCA.
"The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is all about ministering to athletes and coaches and all those that are influenced by them. The FCA East/West Football Classic helps accomplish that and more," said Lester.
Clint Fair, Area Representative for FCA, said the East-West Classic give seniors from area football teams a chance to play in a high level football game with other seniors from the area.
"We believe this type of experience can make a difference in their lives eternally and open the door for them be looked at by many different college football recruiters. The type of kid we are looking at to participate is one who is getting it done off the field when it comes to character and integrity as well as on the field," said Fair.
Lester said this first East-West Classic won't be the last.
"It is truly a community event that we pray will become a tradition that will impact Gainesville/Hall County for many years to come," Lester said.
2013 FCA East/West Classic Rosters
East Team
Roster number, player name, position, school
1 Kendrick Smith DB JHS
2 Luis Hernandez DB JHS
3 Carmen Hicks K/P BCHS
4 Cameron Davis QB FBHS
5 Drequan Branner DB EHHS
6 Quinshad Jenkins DB FBHS
8 Quay Jarrells DB EHHS
10 Caleb Herrin LS JHS
12 Collin Pettell QB RMA
16 Stephen Weschler DB RMA
21 Wes Faulkner RB BCHS
22 Edward Vergara RB EHHS
33 Kevin Mayfield RB BCHS
40 Jonathon Dempsey LB BCHS
42 Corey Reece LB EHHS
44 Jorge Hernandez LB EHHS
45 Kellen Clark LB FBHS
70 Deston Patrick OL BCHS
71 Devin McClay OL JHS
72 Harrison Summerour OL RMA
73 Rashaan Doleman OL FBHS
75 Cody Santmyres OL FBHS
76 Keaton Coker OL FBHS
77 J.D. Holloway OL EHHS
80 Taylor Turner WR BCHS
81 Justin Thomson WR FBHS
82 A'lencio Graham WR FBHS
88 Travis Foster TE EHHS
89 Milton Welchel WR EHHS
90 Kintavious Johnson DL EHHS
91 Michael Bookwalter DL JHS
92 Arturo Razo DL JHS
93 Ben White DL RMA
96 Thor Smith DL FBHS
98 Gabriel Argueta DL FBHS
West Team
1 Gage Turner K/P GHS
2 Zach English QB WHHS
3 Andrew Smith QB NHHS
4 Will Cape DB NHHS
5 Chandler Newton DB GHS
6 Zac Cheshire DB CHS
8 Brannon Dyer DB NHHS
10 Brenton Merritt DB GHS
12 William Fayson LB CHS
16 Eric Camacho LB WHHS
21 Antonio Pittman RB WHHS
22 Blake Buffington DB CHS
33 Zach Little RB NHHS
40 Destin Bennett LB NHHS
42 David Epps LB NHHS
43 Drake Hollander RB LA
44 Brenquez Dukes LB GHS
45 Brenquese Dukes LB GHS
70 Jordan Browning OL CHS
71 Danny Flores OL GHS
72 Cole Strickland OL NHHS
75 Russell Gillespie OL NHHS
76 Edgar Arroyo OL GHS
77 Justin Bacus OL NHHS
78 Brandon Brechter OL CHS
80 Jay Gaudlock WR GHS
81 Chastin Newman WR GHS
88 Mason Gaines TE WHHS
89 Noah Baxter TE CHS
90 Cody Humphries DL CHS
91 J.T. McClung DL LA
92 C. Quinones DL GHS
96 Khalil Cantrell DL CHS
98 Joston Segars DL WHHS
99 Dylan Truelove DL NHHS
Honorees (players selected but will not be playing)
East Team
23 Jamison Owen WR JHS
26 Jeremy James DB FBHS
43 Cody Beezley LB BCHS
West Team
23 Hunter Atkinson TE WHHS
43 Patrick Avery TE LA
82 Paul Avery DL LA
9 Jackson Strickland QB LA
26 Tyree Robertson DB CHS
7 Deshaun Watson QB GHS
74 Thomas Marchman OL NHHS
Saturday
November 23rd, 2024
1:44PM
