Local coaches, players to participate in weekend's all-star games

Tallassee coach Jackie O’Neal will be a part of the coaching staff in the North-South All-Star game in Mobile. (Kyle Thornton)

By TIM GAYLE

Area coaches and a dozen local players will be participating in the two football all-star games in Mobile this weekend.

The annual Alabama vs. Mississippi All-Star Football Classic will take place on Saturday at noon at South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium. The head coach of the Alabama all-stars is Saraland coach Jeff Kelly. His defensive coordinator is Catholic coach Kirk Johnson, coach of the 5A state champions.

Among the players selected to participate in the game are Carver running back Anthony Rogers, an Ohio State signee, and wide receiver TK Norman, a Texas A&M signee. Julian defensive end Chris Johnson and Catholic tight end Wilson Hodges will participate in the game as well.

The North-South All-Star Football Game will be played a day earlier at Hancock Whitney Stadium at 2 p.m., featuring eight players from Montgomery County.

Pike Road offensive linemen Terrione Bell and Zion Stevens were selected to represent the South, along with Carver running back Tre Berry, Julian running back Keshun Marbury, Montgomery Academy receiver DJ Vinson and a trio of Catholic stars -- safety Jo Pierce, cornerback Rickie Williams and offensive lineman Aaron Taylor.

The head coach of the South all-stars is Daphne coach Kenny King. His offensive coordinator will be Bobby Carr, who just completed his first season in the Alabama High School Athletic Association at Carver after years in the Alabama Independent School Association.

“It’s an honor,” Carr said. “Coaching all-star games, as an offensive guy, I think you’re limited to what you can do defensively so that makes it easy on us. I’ve coached in I don’t know how many AISA all-star games, but it is an honor as a first-year coach in the Alabama High School Athletic Association. It should be a lot of fun. We’ve got some really good coaches on our staff. I’m honored that Kenny King called me and asked me to run the offense.”

Coaching the defensive backs will be first-year Tallassee coach Lawrence O’Neal.

“I knew of Coach King and when he called and asked me, I said that’s a no-brainer,” O’Neal said. “I would love to be a part of it. I hadn’t asked him what he wanted me to coach. I have been coaching offense the past three years, but I’m a defensive guy by nature. It’s an honor and a privilege. Growing up, I saw my father (Jackie O’Neal) coach in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and the North-South game and this is one of the things where I’m following in his footsteps.”

The coaching staff also included Trinity coach Brian Seymore, who was coaching the offensive line, but Seymore withdrew from the game on Monday for personal reasons and was replaced by St. James coach Aubrey Blackwell.

“I am honored that Coach Kenny King asked me to join his staff as a last-minute replacement,” Blackwell said. “I am looking forward to working with this great staff and players from the South. We will have some fun, get better along the way and prepare for a ‘W.’”