PREP FOOTBALL All-Star game format will focus on rivalries

The MVCA split the teams geographically to create more interest.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HUBBARD -- The annual Jack Arvin All-Star Football Classic, sponsored by the Mahoning Valley Coaches Association, will be played Friday starting at 7 p.m. at Hubbard High Stadium with a renewed rivalry for the players, coaches and fans.
Under the new rivalry, the top graduating seniors from Mahoning and Columbiana counties will combine as a white-jersey team to square off against their red-jersey counterparts from Trumbull County, instead of just being mixed together.
Greg Lazzari, the Champion High coach who will direct the 33-player Trumbull team, said the MVCA split the teams geographically to create a sense of rivalry and more interest from players and fans.
"This is the first time in 10 years that they split the teams into Trumbull County vs. Mahoning-Columbiana [because] they feel it generates more of a rivalry," said Lazzari, who will be coaching in the game for the first team although he served as an assistant five years ago.
Practice slate
He said his Trumbull team already has begun practices at Champion High, and three sessions are carded this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6-8 p.m.
"You have a lot of friends and relatives [coming to the game] and most of the head coaches in the area will show up. There will be a [rivalry] that will increase spectator interest," said Lazzari, whose entire Trumbull staff is from Champion High. "We have a lot of top players in the game and it should attract a lot of fans.
"A lot of my kids that play in the TAC-8 are looking forward] to playing some of the Steel Valley teams."
Lazzari said the game provides advantages for everyone involved.
"From a coaching standpoint, it's a great way to honor the athletes to show their hard work," said Lazzari, who is entering his fourth season as Champion coach.
Most of the players in the game are headed to college to play football, so the game provides an extra advantage for them in preparation.
"It gives them an early chance to get back into it [workouts] and when their [college] practices start it will make them better prepared when camp starts in August," said Lazzari.
Smith at helm
The 34-player Mahoning-Columbiana team is coached by John Smith of Springfield, who is entering his third season at the helm.
Smith said the team has been practicing for a week, and will continue to do so this week Monday through Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Springfield High.
kovach@vindy.com