Last modified: Friday, May 2, 2008 12:12 AM EDT
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| MARTIN GAVINNick Schwieger is one of two Bishop Feehan players in the Shriners Classic game. |
10 locals to play in Shriners Classic football game
BY DALE RANSOM SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
WILMINGTON - The 30th annual Shriners Football Classic, featuring some of the top high school seniors from Eastern Mass., will have a distinct local flavor as 10 players from the The Sun Chronicle area will pull on the pads for the South squad.
Hockomock League champion Mansfield leads the local contingent with three selections - running back/linebacker Michael Abany, quarterback Mark Gilson and tight end/defensive end William Goodale. The 6-1, 205-pound Abany was the league's defensive MVP with 52 tackles, while Gilson threw for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns. The 6-4, 255-pound Goodale helped a Hornet defense that allowed an average of just a little over 200 total yards per game.
Division 2 Super Bowl champion Bishop Feehan will be represented by running back/defensive back Nick Schwieger and two-way lineman Christopher Paine. The Dartmouth-bound Schwieger rushed for over 2,000 yards and scored 29 TD, many behind the 220-pound Paine at center, who also recorded six sacks from his defensive line position.
South Coast Conference champion Seekonk sends running back Christopher Hanoian and offensive lineman Christopher Howard. Hanoian rushed for over 1,200 yards and 18 touchdowns, many behind his 245-pound tackle Howard, in leading the Warriors to a 10-0 regular season record.
Foxboro contributes running back/linebacker Tim Mogan and two-way lineman Brian Woollard. Mogan was the Hockomock League's offensive MVP after rushing for over 1,300 yards and 12 TD's, again, many behind the crushing blocks from the 6-5, 305-pound Woollard at tackle. Mogan also had 57 tackles and four sacks on defense, while Woollard had 33 tackles, three sacks and a blocked punt.
Running back/defensive back Elijah Harris will represent North Attleboro. Harris rushed for over 1,100 yards and scored 14 TD's on offense and then turned around and had 44 tackles from his cornerback position, 31 of them first-hit takedowns.
The game is sponsored by Aleppo Shriners and the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association and is organized as a fundraiser to benefit the Shriners Hospital for Children.
Previous games have featured over 30 past and present NFL players including Steve DeOssie, Doug Flutie, Matt Hasselbeck, Pete Kendall and Jermain Wiggins.
This year's squad features players representing 67 communities across Eastern Massachusetts. The game includes several nationally-ranked players, including running back Issac Johnson of Everett, offensive lineman Nick Halloran of Buckingham, Browne & Nichols, tight end Mike Stone of Holliston and wide receiver Matt Edwards of Holliston.
Coaching the squads this year will be Dave Woods of Bishop Fenwick High School for the North and Peter Columbo of Brockton High for the South.
Kick off will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 20 at Bentley College in Waltham. Tickets are $10 and available on the day of game. For advanced ticket sales contact Aleppo Shriners at 978-657-4202 ext. 20. |