Jul 18, 2012
All-Star Week will wrap up in Greensboro on Wednesday night with the N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star Football Game at Grimsley High School.
Some of the state's top talent from the Class of 2012 will take the field one last time to conclude their high school football careers. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. in Greensboro.
A number of area players have been selected to play in the game: Dorian Belcher (QB, Southern Durham), Terron Huffman (DB, Southern Nash), R.J. Quick (WR, Chapel Hill), Shaheed Swinson (RB, Kinston), Timothy Applewhite (LB, Hunt), Marquis McMillan (LB, Jack Britt), Shawn Knox (LB, Apex), Chris Phillips (OL, Fike), Bladen Gatling (OL, Hertford County), Josh Lockyer (DL, Panther Creek), Sayoun Flowers (DL, Richmond County), Kris Tyndall (DL, Scotland County), Angelo Keyes (TE, Kinston).
West Brunswick coach Jimmy Fletcher is leading the East team. He will be assisted by Paul Moore (Hertford County), Brian Paschal (D.H. Conley), Joey Price (Wallace-Rose Hill), Eddie Twyne (Manteo) and Russell Williamson (Princeton).
Timothy Applewhite is a 6-foot-2, 220 pound linebacker from Hunt. He recorded 91 tackles, seven sacks, six tackles for a loss, five blocked kicks and three fumble recoveries. His performance earned him all-conference and all-area honors, and he was named the All-Area Defensive Player of the Year. Applewhite will play college football at Chowan next season.
"I am very excited, privileged, honored and ready to represent Hunt High School and the East," Applewhite said. "I look forward to this football event. I expect to gain experience playing with and against some of the best high school players in North Carolina and the chance to shine by performing my athletic abilities on the field."
Dorian Belcher led Southern Durham's offense last season, passing for 1,900 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also rushed for 12 touchdowns, earning all-conference honors. He will attend N.C. A&T next year.
"I am excited to have the opportunity to get back on the field again. I am hoping to just enjoy the time getting to know my teammates. I am also hoping the East will win," Belcher said.
Richmond County's Sayoun Flowers was an all-conference selection last season at 6-foot and 243 pounds. The defensive lineman also competes in track and field for the Raiders.
"I feel honored to play in the all-star game," he said. "I expect to meet new people, get a better college opportunity, and learn new techniques to add to my talent."
Bladen Gatling is a 6-foot-3, 320-pound offensive lineman for Hertford Count. As a senior, Gatling was an all-conference player, he was also named the All-Roanoke Offensive Lineman. Gatling will play college football at Elizabeth City State next season.
"I feel honored. I will get a head start on college conditioning," Gatling said of playing in the all-star game.
Terron Huffman is a 5-foot-7, 166-pound defensive back from Southern Nash. As a senior, Huffman rushed for 1,466 yards and 16 touchdowns, he also caught seven passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Huffman was an all-conference and all-area selection and was named the team's Most Valuable Player.
Huffman said he feels "honored and humbled to be representing my school and family. I hope to gain memories that will last a lifetime."
Kinston High School's Angelo Keyes ia a 6-foot-1, 239-pound linebacker on the East team this season. As a senior, Keyes was an all-conference selection, was named the Eastern Plains Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and was the Outstanding Defensive Player on the state runner-up Vikings team. Keyes, an N.C. A&T recruit, posted 74 solo tackles and 60 assisted tackles last season.
Keyes also played on the state champion basketball team where he earned all-conference honors. He said he is "very excited and ready to play" in the all-star game.
Apex High School's Shawn Knox is a 5-foot-9, 193-pound linebacker. He was an all-conference selection for the Cougars last season in the Tri-9 4-A Conference. He plans to attend Fayetteville State next year.
"I'm truly honored to play in this year's all-star game. I'm just looking to play ball and to come out with a win," he said.
Panther Creek's Josh Lcokyer was the team's Most Valuable Player last season. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound defensive lineman will attend East Carolina next fall.
"I feel very privileged to play in the all-star game and be recognized for my hard work," Lockyer said.
Jack Britt linebacker Marquis McMillan was an all-conference and all-region selection last season. As a senior, McMillan recorded 168 tackles, compiling 374 career tackles for the Buccaneers.
"I would've never thought I would be selected to play," he said. "To me, it's a great honor to represent my school."
Fike's Chris Phillips, a 6-foot and 285-pound offensive lineman, was an all-conference and all-area selection last season as a senior. Phillips also competed in basketball, baseball and track, where he was seventh in the state in the shot put. . He will play college ball at Lenoir Rhyne next season and hopes to become a teacher and football coach.
"I feel so honored to play in the game," Phillips said. "I am excited and can't wait to play. I look forward to meeting new people, learning more about the game, and going against great competition."
R.J. Quick was one of the top wide receivers in the Triangle last season for Chapel Hill. At 5-foot-9 and 165-pounds, Quick was an all-conference selection, was named to the HighSchoolOT.com All-OT Team, and received Tom Suiter's Extra Effort Award. Quick will play college football at Winston Salem State next season.
"I feel great about playing in the all-star game," Quick said. "I feel I had to do a lot and put in a lot of hard work to get here. I expect to learn new material I can use in college."
Running back Shaheed Swinson had over 2,500 all purpose yards and 27 touchdowns last season for Kinston. An all-conference selection, Swinson helped the Vikings to a state championship appearance. At 5-foot-8 and 171 pounds, Swinson will play at NC Central next season.
Swinson said he hopes to "meet new football friends and showcase my talents versus very skilled players."
Kristopher Tyndall, a 6-foot-1 and 300-pound offensive lineman, was an all-conference, all-region and all-state selection last season for the Scots. Tyndall was named the Most Valuable Player of the 4-A state championship game. He will continue his football career at UNC-Pembroke next season.
"I feel accomplished to play in this all-star game. It was one of my goals to play in an all-star game by my senior year, and now that I have the chance to play, it is overwhelming," Tyndall said. "I expect to gain friendships with other football players that I can carry on through my life."
The West team will be coached by Erwin's Mike Sexton. Mike Bradley (North Mecklenburg), Darrell Brewer (Avery County), Chris Causey (Western Guilford), Craig Kiser (Lincolnton) and Bryan Lingerfelt (East Davidson) will assist Sexton.
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