Kansas City Star, The (MO)
June 14, 2000
Edition: METROPOLITAN
Section: WYANDOTTE/LEAVENWORTH STAR
Page: 15

All-stars tune up for Metro Classic
Author: JASON KING; The Kansas City Star

The ninth annual Coca-Cola Metro Classic, the Kansas-Missouri all-star football game by the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association, is one day away, and Schlagle receiver Gary Heaggans doesn't know who his quarterback is.

Actually, Heaggans knows what the guy looks like. He just doesn't know his name.

"Is it Chris?" asks Heaggans. "Greg? I can't remember. I just know he's pretty cold and he's from Shawnee Mission North. And as long as he can get me the ball, that's all I need to know."

SM North's Danny Bartlett - along with SM East's Steve Peppes - will bark signals when the Kansas All-Stars square off against Missouri at 7 p.m. Thursday at Shanee Mission North District Stadium. And if they haven't figured it out, getting the ball to Heaggans might not be a bad idea.

As a senior at Schlagle, Heaggans caught 25 passes for 635 yards. He scored nine touchdowns and racked up 897 all-purpose yards en route to earning first team All-Metro honors by The Star. He was also named the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in Kansas.

Thursday will mark the final game of Heaggans' high school career. Next fall he will be catching passes from Heisman Trophy candidate Drew Brees at Purdue University, where Heaggans has signed to play football.

Heaggans said he is looking forward to Thursday's game.

"It's cool, because not only are you playing with a bunch of all-stars, you're playing against all-stars, too," Heaggans said. "Still, I don't feel like I have anything to prove. I just want to go out there and have fun.

"So far, the practices have been great. I've just been lying around the house all summer and lifting weights. Now I get to come out and stretch and get the feel of football again."
Heaggans won't be the only Schlagle standout in Thursday's game. Former Stallions' defensive back Verlee McCullough is on the squad as well.

A Coffeyville Community College signee, McCullough was quick to respond when asked about his dream all-star game.

"First of all, I'd want to make two interceptions," said McCullough, who will start at cornerback. "And on the kickoff or a punt, I'd want to make the first tackle of the game for our team."

Although Heaggans and McCullough said the focus of the game was camaraderie, both put on serious faces when discussing the Kansas-Missouri rivalry. Kansas holds a 6-2 series lead in the annual event.

"It's a big deal to me," Heaggans said. "If we lose to Missouri, we're never going to live it down. I'm sure I'd go to the mall and hear people say, 'Man, you guys lost to Missouri."'
Said McCullough: "This game is real. I'm taking it just like I took a high school game. We're not going to let Missouri beat us."

Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Metro Classic all-star game
WHEN: 7 p.m., June 15
WHERE: Shawnee Mission North District Stadium (7401 Johnson Drive)
MISSOURI COACHES: Head coach - Rick Beyers, St. Pius X; assistants - Benny Palmentere, St. Pius X; Rick Ringel, St. Pius X; Larry Paoletti, Grandview; Phil Lascoula, Hogan; Jim DeMarea, O'Hara; Kevin Gorman, Park Hill; Don Montgomery, Raytown South; James Godfrey, Park Hill South.
KANSAS COACHES: Glenn Percy, Shawnee Mission East; assistants - David Barreca, SM East; Scott Wright, Blue Valley, Kevin Kopecky, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jon Krug, SM West; Donnie Hannak, BV North; Aaron Barnett, Eudora; Scott Milkowart, Washington; John Stonner, Olathe East; Brad Cross, Chishulm Trail Junior High School.

Copyright 2000 The Kansas City Star Co.