HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: ONE LAST CHANCE TO SHOW THEIR STUFF EAST-WEST ALL-STAR GAME A SHOWCASE FOR LOCALS.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

Hey high school football fans, get ready for one last hurrah.

Many of the region's top high school players, including rival quarterbacks Sean Norton of Hart and Nate Longshore of Canyon, are participating in the eighth annual East-West All-Star Game at 2 p.m. today at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa.

The event marks the final opportunity for these players to represent their schools and communities, and they're hoping to make the most of it.

Five Hart players (Norton, receiver Kevin Ciccone, linebacker Brian Elledge, lineman Kevin Bell and running back Dan Howell) are on the East roster. Seven Canyon players (Longshore, linemen Chachi Spann, Jeff Briscoe and Dan Van Deventer, receivers Sean Coen and Tim Naillieux and linebacker Andrew Schantz) are on the West roster.

Over the past two years, Hart has been the only team to defeat Canyon during the regular season, as both have asserted themselves as state powers.

``It will be fun playing against those guys again. We've never lost to them, and I hope it doesn't happen this time,'' Bell said. ``There's a little bit of that rivalry thing in there. It will be interesting, especially now that it's not (Hart coach Mike) Herrington vs. (Canyon coach Harry) Welch.''

The event raises money for the Valley Youth Conference, so the players have a chance to give something back to the community. That's an important factor, too.

``I really think that's the main reason we're doing it - to support the kids by raising money,'' Norton said. ``Of course we want to represent Santa Clarita and show we're great athletes. But this is a good chance to give back to the community and show support.''

Elledge is hoping to set a positive example.

``It's always great to have a chance to be a role model, especially for little kids who want to grow up to be all-stars at some point in their lives,'' he said.

Elledge, who will leave shortly to begin his college career at San Jose State, also is looking forward to a chance to wear Hart's colors one last time.

``We're the big leaders on Hart's team, and this is our one last chance to be together,'' he said. ``It's really nice because it's a good group of guys.''

Ciccone, who'll join Norton at Fresno State this fall, expects he'll sense the sentimentality of the moment during the opening kickoff.

``Nothing's really kicked in yet,'' he said. ``The last game, the day of school, etc. It still hasn't kicked in.''

Valencia running back Jeff Bomberger, defensive back Brandon Nichols and lineman Jeff Mazzeo are participating for the West.

Gerry Gittelson, [phone]

gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Hart receiver Kevin Ciccone will play for the East team in the eighth annual East-West All-Star Game today.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer