---

WILMINGTON - Eight local players were selected to participate in the 31st annual Shriners Football Classic to be played Friday, June 19 at Bentley College.

Super Bowl participants Mansfield and Norton will send two players each, along with Hockomock League runner-up North Attleboro. Other Sun Chronicle area schools represented are Division 4 Super Bowl participant Tri-County and Eastern Athletic Conference champion Bishop Feehan.

For the South squad, representing Mansfield will be offensive/defensive lineman Dan Glavin and quarterback/defensive back Jeff Mallett. The Lancers will send Tri-Valley League MVP, running back Sean Ryan and wide-receiver/defensive back Brian Desmond. North Attleboro lends running back/safety Kevin Richman and offensive/defensive lineman Mike D'Atillo.

Also heading to the game will be Tri-County quarterback/defensive back Lucas Mistler and Bishop Feehan tight end/linebacker Tom Effler.

The Shriners Football Classic is the premier all-star football game in Eastern Massachusetts and features high school seniors from several schools from across Massachusetts. 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 Shriners 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 76 communities across Eastern Massachusetts.

The game includes several nationally recruited players including safety Steven Grassa of Buckingham, Browne & Nichols, safety Jim Noel of Everett High School, defensive lineman Ted Ouellet of Dover-Sherborn High School and wide receiver Justin Mello from Dartmouth High School.

Coaching the squads this year will be Stephen Dembowski of Swampscott High School for the North and Richard White of Dartmouth High School for the South.

Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available the day of the game. For advance ticket sales contact Aleppo Shriners at 978-657-4202 ext. 20.

- DALE RANSOM