It was their last time to get rowdy out on the field and the players took full advantage of it.
In a trash-talking, chippy game overwhelmed with penalties, the ninth annual FCA Pasco County All-Star Football Game saw “Best of the East vs. Best of the West” senior football players take things to the extreme, as the two teams battled it out for bragging rights.
At the end of a game that was called early due to fights, the East won 31-14 over the West.
In 2022, the game featured additional nearby counties and its players.
Founded in 2015, the game was a chance for senior football players from Pasco’s 13 public schools and two private schools with 11-man football teams to showcase their final year and have a friendly match. However, this season, the game was smash-mouth from the start, with the teams combined for 245 yards worth of penalties.
The game, organized by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, had Wiregrass Ranch coach Mark Kantor leading the East Team, comprised of fellow schools Wesley Chapel, Cypress Creek, Pasco, Zephyrhills, Sunlake and Zephyrhills Christian. The West — with schools Gulf, Anclote, Mitchell, River Ridge, Bishop McLaughlin, Hudson, Fivay and Land O’ Lakes — was led by Gulf head coach Sean Eperjesi.
The game also honored all-star cheerleaders from their respective schools.
Since its inception, the East leads the series over the West 5-3.
2023 All-Star Football Rosters
East
2 – Milton Garcia, DB, Cypress Creek
5 – Zach Merriman, ATH, Sunlake
6 – Traivon Hill, DB, Wesley Chapel
8 – Jaylen Smith, WR, Zephyrhills
9 – Jakobe Campbell, DB, Zephyrhills
10 – Jack Niemann, QB, Cypress Creek
11 – Roman Sercu, DB, Cypress Creek
14 – Brendyn Colella, QB, Zephyrhills
18 – Cameron Canard, K, Cypress Creek
20 – Malachi Askin, RB, Cypress Creek
21 – Jeremiah Julmiste, RB, Wiregrass Ranch
23 – Emil Drake, DB, Wiregrass Ranch
24 – Rodney Smith, RB, Zephyrhills
25 – Angel Miles, DB, Pasco
27 – Alexavier Hairston, RB, Zephyrhills Christian
34 – Fred Maixner, LB, Zephyrhills
38 – Coy Martin, LB, Cypress Creek
44 – Kolin Murphy, LB, Sunlake
45 – Jaiden Barron, LB, Wiregrass Ranch
51 – Ricky Mingo, DL, Wesley Chapel
53 – Evan Miller, OL, Cypress Creek
54 – David Kirk, DL, Cypress Creek
55 – Brayden Larson, LB, Zephyrhills Christian
56 – Wesley Young, LB, Wesley Chapel
60 – Austin Slusher, OL, Cypress Creek
61 – D.J. Pope, DL, Pasco
62 – Khalial Buckenroth, DL, Wiregrass Ranch
63 – Bradley Kovac, OL, Sunlake
64 – Tyreese Grose, DL, Pasco
65 – Logan Lagrone, OL, Zephyrhills
70 – Jaeden Ortiz, OL, Wiregrass Ranch
73 – Travis Brown, OL/DL, Wiregrass Ranch
74 – Christian Velasquez, OL, Zephyrhills
77 – Connor Libby, OL, Wesley Chapel
80 – Shawn Smith, WR, Cypress Creek
82 – Theodore Sands, WR, Zephyrhills
83 – Jayden Ramos, WR, Zephyrhills Christian
84 – Noah Coats, TE/WR, Zephyrhills Christian
86 – Sidney Allen, TE, Pasco
West
2 – Michael Ruffin, DB, Gulf
3 – Chris Roman, WR, Gulf
5 – A.J. McFarlane, WR, Hudson
6 – Jeff Mason, LB, Land O’ Lakes
11 – Edwin Gonzales, DB, Gulf
12 – Riley Blevens, QB, Hudson
14 – David Acosta, QB, Fivay
15 – Kyle Horvath, QB, Land O’ Lakes
16 – Ah’Vaughn Hatchett, DB, Fivay
18 – Joe Franklin, DB, Hudson
19 – Sammy Hagen, K/P, Hudson
21 – Logan Shawell, RB, Hudson
22 – Josiah Pickens, DB, Gulf
23 – Damien Spencer, RB, Anclote
27 – Cody Gwinn, RB, Land O’ Lakes
28 – Jamarian Miller, RB, Fivay
38 – Idris Ofray, LB, Anclote
41 – Michael Ruffin, DB, Gulf
42 – Kaden Padilla, LB, Gulf
44 – Sam Walls, LB, River Ridge
45 – Tank Hadsell, LB, Hudson
50 – Devin Gilbertson, LB, Land O’ Lakes
52 – Tyler Jensen, LB, River Ridge
53 – Anthony Rollins, OL, Gulf
54 – Nico Mastrosimone, OL, Mitchell
55 – Narselles Lett, LB, Hudson
56 – Bryce Widman, DT, River Ridge
60 – Alex Rauschenberg, DT, Bishop Mclaughlin
61 – Javon Jones, OL, Mitchell
62 – Khris Cruz, DT, Land O’ Lakes
63 – Alexander Manos, OL/DL, Gulf
64 – Jaxson Allen, DT, Gulf
67 – K.J. Moses, DT, Land O’ Lakes
68 – Elias Williams, DT, Hudson
70 – Chris Forsell, OL, Hudson
72 – Cam Council, DT, Mitchell
73 – Nick Mowry, OL, Mitchell
74 – Ahman Cooper, DT, Mitchell
75 – Mauricio Anton, OL, Mitchell
77 – Jesse Newman, OL, Anclote
82 – Noa Paselio, WR, Gulf
83 – Sam Monfre, WR, Fivay
Published December 20, 2023
