MaxPreps Student Section On May 21st, the 16th annual East-West Coastal Bend Shrine Classic High School All-Star Football Game will be held at the newly renovated Cabaniss Field in Corpus Christi, Texas.
It will host the top football players in the coastal bend, divided into 2 teams: the East, and the West.
Out of 42 schools in the Coastal Bend area, 24 in the west and 18 in the east, approximately 54 athletes were chosen for each team. Each school is allowed the minimum of one player, with the maximum being five. Players are nominated by their coaches and chosen by the Al Amin Shriners organization.
Five athletes from
Calallen High School were selected to play for the west team: Tyler Denman, Nick Ginn, Given McClure, Tanner Sparks and Andrew Shows.
"I will get the experience of not just playing with people I played against but also playing with the best football players in the Coastal Bend, and I'm really looking forward to it," Tyler Denman said.
The west team will be coached this year by Calallen's own head coach, Phil Danaher and his staff.
"Our biggest challenge will be the placement of the talent on the team. We picked some very talented athletes and we're excited to have the opportunity to coach them," Coach Danaher stated.
The five Calallen seniors had high expectations for the 2010 football season but it did not start exactly as they had hoped. After a disappointing loss to cross-town rival, the Gregory Portland Wildcats. Calallen faced a 21 point deficit against the high-octane Victoria East Titans the following week. Under the leadership of the senior players and from key adjustments by the coaching staff; the Wildcats answered back. With explosive offensive performances by Sparks and McClure who rushed for a combined 299 yards. Behind all-state offensive tackle Shows.
Defensively, Denman and Ginn, the district 31-4A MVP, contributed to holding the Titans to 14 points in the second half. The combined efforts of these five seniors and their teammates led the Calallen Wildcats to the beginning of a 12 game winning streak with the win over Victoria East 39-35.
Having grown up and playing alongside each other since middle school, the football field is the link between the boy's close bond.
"I'm glad I get the opportunity to play with my Calallen teammates one more time," Andrew Shows said.
The Shriners Coastal Bend All Star game will showcase the area's most talented players. Some athletes may use this as a final goodbye to high school football, while others use it as preparation for playing at the collegiate level.
"I'm going to be able to play against high caliber players and I will get to see how my skills compare," Tanner Sparks said, who will be attending Texas Lutheran University next fall.
As the harsh realization of parting ways will set in at Calallen's graduation earlier that day, the 5 boys will be joined together on the field not only as teammates, but also as Calallen Wildcats one last time.
