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East, West All-Stars jell quickly

TAMPA -- It takes some high school football players years of practice to jell as a team.

It took the Hillsborough County All-Stars one day.

"On Monday, these guys came here and jumped right into the flow of things," West All-Stars and Plant coach Darlee Nelson said. "By Tuesday, you would have thought they'd been together for a month."

The East and West teams, made up of the county's best public and private school players, will meet Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.

"They were getting so into it and hitting so hard that we had to tell them to slow down," Nelson said. "When you have a bunch of athletes of this caliber, moving that fast, it can get a little scary, you know, worrying about somebody getting hurt. So yeah, we had to get them to slow down a little."

Among some of the West's top players are Jefferson quarterback Matt Glavich and Chamberlain defensive end Broderick Bunkley. Riverview running back Avious Steadman and King offensive lineman Chris Hutchins highlight the East squad, coached by Armwood's Sean Callahan.

The setting gives the seniors one last chance to play a high school game, and perhaps their only chance to play in a pro stadium. The game begins at 7 p.m. and will also feature a cheerleading squad along with the Durant and King marching bands. Admission is $5 ($2 for parking).

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