Rivals becoming one big football family

JACKSON, Tenn. — The North All-Stars have found common ground on the second day of practice at Trinity Christian Academy.

Ask them what school they represent, their answer is North.

“They’re just focused on winning that’s all they want to do,” North All-Stars head coach J.R. Kirby said.

“All the rivalries, I aint worried about that,” Haywood senior Rashad Brown said. “All just one team. One football family.”

The one happy family approach is illustrated on each player’s helmet. Each has multiple school stickers on their head.

Kirby has seen the annual game grow since its berth in 2012.

For the first-time this year, students will do a service project before Friday’s game.

“I think it’s a good opportunity for kids in West Tennessee. They never really had an all-star game,” Kirby said. “It’s good for these kids to put on a show on Friday night for local college that might come out.”

That show takes center stage at Liberty, and the North team already has a winner in mind.

“You already know the North going to win,” Brown smiled. “Look at us, just look.”