The Kansas City Star
June 13, 1992
Edition: METROPOLITAN
Section: SPORTS
Page: D6

All-star football battle makes longevity a goal Metro Dream Classic, a Kansas vs. Missouri showdown, needs sizable turnout at Arrowhead.
Author: HOWARD RICHMAN; Staff Writer

A summer high school all-star football game returns tonight to Kansas City.
The first Metro Dream Classic, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium, matches some of the top players from the metro area. Kansas vs. Missouri. All-Metro vs. All-State. All-league vs. All-conference.

You get the picture.

"I think you could take this team and win a state championship," said Raytown Coach Harold Albin, who will guide the Missouri squad. "I don't think it'd matter who coached them. " The Dream Classic picks up where the Big Brothers and Sisters game left off. That series lasted 10 years until its demise after the 1985 game. The Big Brothers and Sisters board of directors voted to end the game because of declining profits and lack of sponsors.

Will this one last? Lawrence Coach Dick Purdy said it best when the game was officially announced in February.

"If it's going to continue, we've got to show a profit," Purdy said. "The association isn't in it for the profit part of it. What we want is the game, but the game won't happen unless it's a financial success. " The Chiefs donated use of Arrowhead Stadium, but they said 10,000 seats must be sold for it to continue there. Blue Springs Coach Wayne McGinnis, executive secretary of the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association, said ticket sales at the high schools were brisk, but strong walk-up sales tonight are essential.

As for the game itself, opinions vary. The teams played a scoreless scrimmage Tuesday night.

"Their (Missouri's) defense looked good," said Kansas quarterback Dan Sibert, an Olathe North graduate. "It could go either way. " Steve McCowan, a running back for Missouri from Westport, said: "The offense will decide the game. Both defenses seem to be real strong. Our running backs have the speed to get to the outside, but most of us seem to be bruised and beaten up. " Kansas Coach Steve Rampy, who led Blue Valley to the Kansas 5A championship in November, said his team has incentive.

"I think our kids feel Missouri looks down on them," Rampy said. "It was even that way in the Big Brothers games. I think our kids have something to prove. " Kansas might have the advantage in the passing game with Blue Valley graduate Brian Schottenheimer and Sibert. Missouri looks to be more run-oriented with Raytown's D.J. Johnson and Ruskin's Myron Fisher. It's the Kansas defense that has impressed Rampy.

"They all want to knock your head off," he said.

The real winner, though, will be the beneficiaries of the game, Sibert said. Proceeds go to the Dream Factory, an organization that helps seriously ill children and their families. The players got to meet some of the children Tuesday.

"Until I saw them I forgot what this is all about," Sibert said. "I'm out here for the kids. "

Copyright 1992, 1996 The Kansas City Star Co.