Area graduating seniors will get one more chance to hit the gridiron come Friday night for the Northeastern Kentucky Senior Bowl football game played at Kentucky Christian University.
The 14th annual East vs West game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
Players from Mason County, Lewis County and Bracken County will be featured with schools from all over the northeastern part of the state included in the game. Participants got to get in a few practices this week with a chance at some last looks to play at the next level from KCU and University of Pikeville, according to event manager Tom Posey.
“Some have already signed, but it’s a good chance for others to get looked at. KCU and UPike have been there at practices and I know Cincinnati Christian and some others may be at the game as well,” Posey said.
The game is played pretty much like a regulation high school football game with quarters reduced from 12 to 10 minutes. Special teams are live.
On top of the game, area broadcasters Danny Weddle and Gary Kidwell will be inducted into the Hall of Fame and recognized at halftime of the game. Weddle recently retired from WFTM after 40 years and Kidwell has been at WKKS in Vanceburg for over 40 years and commissioner of the EKC conference for over 20 years. Previous inductees include Corky Prater, Ivan McGlone and Jackson Tolle, an addition to the game three years ago.
This year marks the first being played at KCU, a change of venue from Morehead State University’s Jayne Stadium.
Area players include Mason County’s Jared Collins and Lewis County’s Immanuel Manning on the West team and Bracken County’s Trey Brausch and Tyler Rice on the East team.
Other schools featured include players from Greenup County, Ashland Blazer, East Carter, West Carter, Russell, Raceland, Fairview and Boyd County on the East team and Bath County Harrison County, Jackson County, Powell County, Rowan County and Nicholas County on the West team.
A total of 24 players were on the initial roster on the East team, 18 on the Wast team with Posey expecting a few more added during the week.
