For many of the football players, the 7th Annual Sertoma Grin Iron Classic will be the last time they put on the helmet and pads.
For others, it is just being a stepping stone to playing college football.
Perhaps those two reasons are why this annual all-star football game pitting the best against the best in the area has grown each year.
The seventh edition of the game will feature a few changes as the event has outgrown its old playing field of John F. Kennedy Stadium, as more than 4,000 fans showed up at last year’s game. This year, the game was moved to Plaster Sports Complex, the home of the Missouri State Bears.
Another change, perhaps the most noticeable, is moving the game from its traditional Friday night to Saturday night.
The game’s kickoff will remain at 7 p.m.
The West team will look to remain the king of this battle, as they enter with a 5-1 record in the six previous meetings.
This year’s coach will be Doug Buckmaster of Joplin, who will oversee a group of players from the Joplin area. The East will be coached by Cabool’s Vince McCrosky, who will coach players from the Springfield area all the way east to Rolla and south to West Plains.
The teams are selected by the Southwest Missouri High School Football Coaches Association.
The West team will feature players from Joplin, Webb City, Carthage, Neosho, East Newton, McDonald County, Seneca, Aurora, Mount Vernon and Diamond to just name a few. There are 44 players on the team.
On a local level, between the five schools in the Daily News coverage area, seven players will take part in the game – the highest total in the last three years.
Representing Neosho will be Jesse DeMoss, a safety, who has signed to play at Avila University next year.
“It is always a big honor to be selected to an all-star game,” said former Neosho coach Ray Godfrey of DeMoss. “It is great for the program and the kids. We have had two of the last three MVPs in Zach (Stuart) and Kelsey (Ray) and last year, Tommy (St. Louis) had a great game. Our kids have gone up and done well. Jesse will have a harder time for him to get the MVP award, but I’m sure he will have a great game.”
Seneca and East Newton will each have a pair of players competing in the game.
The Indians will send running back Zach Thompson, an Avila signee, and Tyler Elbert, a walk-on for Missouri Southern.
“I think it is great for both of these kids to play in an all-star game,” said Seneca coach Rob Townsend of the selection. “This is the type of competition they will play in college and this is a reward for the hard work they put in for the program. It’s an honor to have them play.”
It is the first time Seneca had two players in the game since 2006 when Joe Yust and Blake Scribner both played for the West All-Stars.
The Patriots, off a final four appearance, will have defensive players Nic Allphin and David Adams playing in the game.
“It’s obviously a sign that the kids worked hard,” said East Newton coach Tom Ellis. “Our seniors last year did a great job and they worked hard getting ready for the year last year. I put a lot of pressure on them because a lot of people didn’t think we deserved to be where we wanted to be at – the state championship game. The seniors did an awesome job and it shows the kid worked hard. It’s a great honor. I’m proud of all of my seniors from last year.”
McDonald County will be represented by Chism Cooper, one of two centers on the West roster.
‘I’m very pleased he is part of it,” said former McDonald County coach Jeff Wilkie of the selection. “For four years he has been a good worker and this is well deserved. He is very determined and he played hard. He has always been a good competitor and was very coachable. He bought into everything the coaches said.”
Diamond will also have a player on the roster, believed to be the first DHS football player to ever compete in the game, in Casey Youngblood. The wide receiver had 62 catches for 728 yards this year.
“There is what, 30 or 40 kids picked for this team?” questioned former Diamond coach Brent Jordan. “For him to be selected is quite an honor for him and the school. He was one of the top area receivers this year and I can’t think of many people who put up better numbers.”
This year there will be a tailgate starting at 3:30 p.m. and going up until kickoff at Bearfest Village, which will feature music, food and games. There is no entry fee.
Other notables for the game includes: A tent set up by Reckitt Benckiser, makers of French’s Mustard, will give away products while they last. There will be a raffle to win four front row box seats to a Springfield Cardinals game in June.
Ronald McDonald, Louie of the Springfield Cardinals and the Mustard Man will all make an appearance.
All proceeds from the game will benefit the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, known as the “Tooth Truck.” In the first six years, the Grin Iron Classic has provided over $200,000 in support of the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a mobile dental office for at-risk children who do not have access to dental treatment. Since July of 2002, the “Tooth Truck” has helped nearly 7,000 children with $4.2 million in dental treatment and over 20,000 dental appointments.
Tickets are $6 each, while children six and under are free.
Neosho, Mo. —
