June 13, 2007
Edition: 1
Section: SPORTS
Page: NO25

MISSOURI SEEKS FIFTH STRAIGHT VICTORY
Senior all-star football players to play Kansas on Thursday night at Blue Valley High School.
Author: COLE YOUNG, The Kansas City Star

There's been plenty of laughs, some surprises and even a little bit of work taking place at the Missouri team's practices as they prepare for the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Mo-Kan All-Star Game.

Fourty-two Missouri standouts converged on William Jewell College to take part in two weeks of practices before squaring off against their Kansas counterparts.

"It's been great playing with some of these other guys on the Missouri side," St. Pius X defensive end Garrett Smith said. "Playing in this game is something I've wanted to do since I first saw one of these games four years ago."

The all-star game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Blue Valley High School. Missouri is going for its fifth straight win. The Show-Me state squad picked up a 21-7 win last year in the game at William Jewell.

The Missouri all-star players have been surprised by plenty during their practices. .

"I didn't realize Aaron Palmer was so fast," Kearney's Blake Christopher said of the Lee's Summit West running back.

For Smith, the biggest surprise was how there wasn't any prima donnas.

"I thought there'd be some hotshots, but it has been real team oriented, especially on defense," Smith said.

No hotshots on the Missouri roster is due to the fact there really aren't any standouts, according to Blue Springs South's Tony Randolph.

"We are all so even," Randolph said. "It's hard for anyone to really standout much."

Not that Randolph and others haven't been trying to shift a bit of the spotlight towards themselves.

The highlight of Monday's practice came when Randolph and Derrick Washington, the Raymore-Peculiar star taunted each other after every play.
"We've known each other since little league," Randolph said. "It's all just a joke between Derrick and me."

Though most people on the team agree the squad is pretty even, the University of Missouri- bound Washington has elevated himself with a handful of dazzling running plays.

"Derrick Washington is pretty good," Smith said. "He's the real deal."

The Missouri side has 18 All-Metro selections on their team. Missouri is led by Pleasant Hill coach Kyle Roach. Roach's son Nathan Roach, St. Joseph Central's Casey Siela and Christopher will all split time at the quarterback position during the game.

Copyright (c) 2007 The Kansas City Star