HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: THERE'S NO CELT-ING IT SHORT SHRINE ALL-STAR GAME WILL BE A REUNION OF SORTS FOR CRESPI TEAM.

Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer

The 55th annual Al Malaikah Shrine All-Star Football Game has turned into a Crespi High reunion.

Troy Thomas, the former coach of the Encino school who is now at Servite of Anaheim, will co-coach many of his former players along with current coach Jeremiah Ross.

Thomas asked Ross, his offensive coordinator while at Crespi, to help him lead the team when his co-coach from last year, Oaks Christian of Westlake Village's Bill Redell, dropped out.

``I didn't want to do it by myself,'' Thomas said. ``I knew all the Crespi guys, so I thought it would be a lot of fun.''

The Celts also serve prominently on the roster with Stanford-bound lineman Sione Fua, quarterback Matt Wabby, running back Josh Morgan, receiver Cary Jensen-Madison, linebacker Chris Aragon and lineman Jeremiah Tupuola.

That's the biggest showing of any school at the all-senior game.

``To coach them one more time is a lot of fun for me,'' said Thomas, who left his alma mater after the players' junior year. ``I really missed those guys.''

All proceeds from the game benefit the L.A. Shriners Hospital for Children. The game begins at 7 p.m. today at Citrus College in Glendora, with tickets at the gate costing $15.

The game claims to match up private schools versus public schools. However, the private team also includes City Section schools, members of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Including the City teams with the private schools helps to even out the talent pool from which to choose. However, many top City players opt not to play in the game because they had graduation this week.

The area's marquee senior player, Sylmar running back C.J. Gable, dropped out because USC coaches didn't want him to risk playing in an all-star game. He also didn't show up for the East-West All-Star Game two weeks ago.

``I don't want to get hurt or anything,'' Gable said. ``I wanted to play, but everyone is telling me not to.''

Players on the teams visited sick children at the Shriners Hospital last Saturday, as is tradition.

``This gives me a chance to really have an effect and to make kids smile,'' said Canyon defensive lineman Garrett Leary, who is on the public team. ``There's a lot of satisfaction in that. This is a lot more than a high school football game. It's more than one last hurrah.''

The public-school team features five UCLA commitments in receiver Dominique Johnson, lineman Andy Keane, lineman Sean Sheller, linebacker Tobi Umodo and defensive back Alterraun Verner. There are no USC-bound players on the rosters.

The passing game for the public schools will have a Ventura County flavor. The team is coached by Westlake's Jim Benkert, who said he plans to start Newbury Park's Jordan LaSecla at quarterback with Agoura's J.T. Wright and Thousand Oaks' Matt Luft at receiver.

Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell and former long-time Loyola of Los Angeles coach Steve Grady will be inducted into the Shrine Hall of Fame at the game.

Gerry Gittelson contributed.

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