North Topples South at Lone Star Arena Football Classic

March 8th, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas - In a high school football first, gridiron standouts from Central Texas participated in an all star game set in an Arena Football League format Friday, Feb. 23 at Frank Erwin Center in Austin.

With proceeds going to purchase defibrillators for Central Texas schools, an estimated 4,722 fans watched as two teams - each comprised of 33 graduating seniors most of which recently signed Division I letters - faced off in a North vs. South showdown with the North winning 69-14.

Players hailing from as far north as Florence and as far south as Seguin were selected by a committee of local media, area coaches, members of the Austin Wranglers Foundation and Harry McCrary of the Longhorn Foundation.

The game included all of the excitement of Arena-style games such as fast-paced motion, high-scoring offensive attacks and pyrotechnics during player introductions combined with the inclusion of area high school bands, cheerleaders and mascots. At halftime, the 2007 Wranglers players and coaches were introduced and following the game, the high school all-stars along with the Wranglers players took part in a post-game autograph session.

Game MVP Colin Griffith ( Stony Point ) scored two defensive touchdowns for the North, the first an interception early on in the second quarter after picking off a Will Mezger (Lampasas) pass, and the second a fumble recovery. Griffith recorded 2.5 tackles and two sacks.

"This is indeed a unique event," said Glyn Milburn, Wranglers General Manager and Director of Player Personnel. "We are able to not only showcase deserving local talent but also provide a fundraising opportunity to donate much needed medical supplies for local schools."

Milburn believes this may be the first of many such games in Texas and across the nation.

"It would not surprise me to see other franchises emulate what we are doing here," said Milburn. "This is a prototype of what could be a successful series of football all star games around the country."

Texas currently hosts a combined eight Arena-style pro football franchises, which includes the AFL’s Wranglers and Dallas Desperados and arenafootball2’s Rio Grande Valley and Amarillo. Already Wranglers President Doug MacGregor, a member of the Texas Holdings group that owns four of the six af2 teams, including Corpus Christi, Laredo, Lubbock and Houston (Texas Copperheads), has is sights set on next year’s game.

"We are very pleased with what we have accomplished on such short preparation time," said MacGregor referring to his event created mid-December. "In 49 other states it’s just football, but this is Texas and any opportunity to celebrate our local talent is always a good idea. We plan for the LSAFC to continue to grow and become an event the entire community can be proud of for many years to come."

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