ALTAMONTE SPRINGS — When the 11th annual Central Florida All-Star Football Game kicks off at Lake Brantley’s Tom Storey Field on Thursday, the Seminole Athletic Conference figures to be well represented.
The event, which raises money for and brings awareness of the many programs of Special Olympics Florida, brings together the top senior football players from throughout Central Florida.
But sometimes it goes unnoticed that the top senior cheerleaders from the eight-county Central Florida area are also invited to attend and receive much-deserved honors for their four years of supporting their respective schools.
Practices for both the East (Seminole, Volusia, Flagler, Brevard counties) and West (Orange, Osceola, Lake, Sumter counties) teams will continue through this evening (Wednesday) at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium before they head over to Lake Brantley High School for tomorrow’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Tickets are just $5 at the gate and all proceeds go to Special Olympics Florida.
The game also picked up a little more interest over the weekend for Seminole County fans as Oviedo’s Wes Allen will now direct the East team because DeLand’s Kevin Pettis will be a little busy getting his Bulldogs ready to play in the Class 6A State Championship Game Saturday night in Orlando.
That also means that a quartet of players from DeLand chosen to play in the game will also have to be replaced.
Two other local players who had been selected to play in the game, Lake Howell standout linebacker Christian Jones and Lake Brantley running back Tyler Krider will not be playing the game.
Krider previously turned down the opportunity to play in the contest, while Jones had to withdraw because of a back injury that will keep him sidelined until the Under Armour Game in Tampa.
However, barring any other unannounced changes, Patriots fans will get one last time to see Danny Palmer, Jordan Rudd and Eric Gibbs in a Lake Brantley uniform and they will be joined by Peter Donnelly and UCF signee Andrew Rice from Lake Mary; Andre Robinson from Lyman; UCF signee Blake Bortles, Trevor Berry and Marcus Thomas from Oviedo; the Seminole High trio of Toby Durham, Thurman Byrd and University of Minnesota signee Tyrone Bouie; and Jamie Butler from Winter Springs.
There will also be one local product on the West squad as Orangewood Christian standout Aaron Gendreau will be a part of that team.