PAGE 18 - ALEPPO SHRINERS NEWS WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS Friday Night Lights: The 29th Annual Shrine Game

By MARK STOUGHT HE 29th Annual Shrine Game took place at the Athletic Fields at Bentley College in Waltham, MA on Friday, June 22nd, 2007. Though it T rained for the entire first half and some of the fourth quarter, the crowd was enthusiastic throughout. Coming into the game, the North had a margin- ally better record in the series (15-13), though the South had won their last four meetings since the game moved to Bentley College in 2001. The first Shriners All-Star Game was played June 23, 1979 at Boston College, and since that time, the goings-on at the game have expanded, from only having a Game Queen appointed from amongst the Shriners’ Hospital patients to also having a Game King, player of the game awards, scholarships, donations to the Shrine, and a halftime parade. This year, $10,000 was donat- ed to the Aleppo Shriners by the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association, and at least the same amount was given out in scholarships to players. If you’ve never been to a high-school football game, the atmosphere is like nothing at any other type of sporting event. There are parents and coaches in the stands discussing plays and cheering on their teams. Some players, judg- ing from the noise during the introductions, even had their own cheering sec- tions. There’s a real sense of camaraderie, even between those on heretofore different teams. The game began with the North receiving possession. They put together a good first drive, but were stopped one yard short on 4th and 5 at the 25. The South, taking over on downs, started out with a 25 yard run, but ended up hav- ing to punt after short gain, a loss, and an incomplete pass. The punt was way back into the corner, pinning the North at their own 6 with 3:39 in the first quarter. The very next play ended in a safety that was rescinded due to penal- ty, and the drive-ending punt went to the 38 with a 15 yard penalty. The South took over on the 23, and the first quarter ended scoreless. continued on page 20

THE RECIPIENTS of the Alton Moore Award. Pictured left to right are: #11 Mike Lane, South Squad; Erica Way, Game Queen with her father; Noble Ralph Brown; Illustrious Albert D. Flight, Potentate; MEMBERS of the Lowell Firefighters Union presented Football Jimmy Rosales, Game King; and #71 Matt Innis, North Squad. Chairman Robert F. Smith and Illustrious Albert D. Flight with a check for $7,500. Presenting the check is: John F. Dowling, Stanley W. Trzcienski, and Brian Deangelo.

A CHECK FOR $10,000 was presented to the Shriners Football Classic from the MHSFP (Massachusetts High School Football Prospects). THE 29th Annual All-Star Classic MVP’s were presented their tropies by Presenting the check is, left to right: Ieva, Richard Davis, Kelly, Football Chairman Robert F. Smith and Illustrious Potentate Albert D. Melissa, Hillary, to Illustrious Albert D. Flight, Aleppo Potentate, and Flight. The MVPs are, left to right: South Players #5 Addison Lynch, and Robert F. Smith, Assistant Rabban and Football Chairman. #54 Corey Eason; North Players #63 Walter Fallas and #5 Bobby Russo.

MORE THAN 300 people gathered in the auditorium of the Aleppo Shrine Center for the Football All-Star Classic Banquet on June 20, 2007.