South Shore well represented in All-Star Football at Raymond James
By Steve Jackson
TAMPA — Eleven players and four coaches from high schools in the South Shore area were honored with the opportunity to play in one more high school football game last weekend. This was no run-of-the-mill game. It was the annual, since 1999, Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Hillsborough County All-Star High School football game featuring the top seniors of Hillsborough County in an East vs. West gridiron clash at Raymond James Stadium.
The head coach of the East All Stars, head coach Matt Kitchie of the Lennard Longhorns, proudly hoisted the winner’s trophy following Saturday’s game under the lights. East head coach Kitchie’s assistants for the game included East Bay head football coach Frank LaRosa as well as assistant coaches Khris Ramsey of Lennard and Billy Williams of East Bay.
The players were selected by coaches from Hillsborough County. Among those on the East squad team from South Shore were: Mike Rigolizzo, Jah’Tavis Philpot, Delvin Lawson and Corey Freeman of Lennard; Kobe Smith, Jerson Singleton and Marcus Cobbins of Spoto; LaVain Robinson of Riverview; and Tre Everett, Joaquin Isidro and Jontrell Oliver of East Bay.
The East All Stars jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead and continued to pour it on in the second half to claim the 44-0 blowout win. The East’s Offensive MVP Braxton Plank told media after the rout, “We feel like we play better football out here in the East.” The former Plant City quarterback plans to attend USF as a preferred walk-on. Josh Young, a defensive end from Strawberry Crest was the East Defensive MVP who intercepted a West screen pass and rambled and juked 69 yards for the East’s second TD. The MVPs for the West were Caleb Faris, a wide receiver from Plant; and Jael Feliz, a linebacker from Alonso.
Highlights for the West included a 40-yard scoring pass from Lennard’s former athlete Jah’Tavis Philpart. A linebacker from the Spoto Spartans, Marcus Cobbins, also got in on the scoring parade with a pick six for a 70-yard East touchdown in the fourth quarter.