MATT MAY PHOTOS/TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
East winning head coach Matt Kitchie, the head football coach for Lennard, holds aloft the trophy presented to the 44-0 All Star game winners.

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.

Some of the East team at the All Star football game won by the East over the West 44-0 at Raymond James Stadium last Saturday night.

East All Stars included #77 Antonio Pineda of Bloomingdale; #7 Braxton Plunk of Plant City; #21 Tre Everett of East Bay; and #84 Jontrell Oliver of East Bay.

Jontrell Oliver, #84, from East Bay, enters the field under a smoke-filled salute for the All Star game.

Joaquin Isidro, #24, from East Bay churns up yardage running upfield for the East.

Marcus Cobbins, #44 from Spoto is ready to take the field at Raymond James Stadium.

Tre Everett, #21, from East Bay, is ready to rumble on offense and defense for the East All Stars.

Lennard running back Mike Rigolizzo, #1 for the East, ends high school career in a blaze of glory at All Star game.