By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Practice sessions began Monday for the St. Elizabeth Healthcare East-West All-Star Football Game to be played at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Scott High School.
Many of the top senior players on Northern Kentucky football teams last season will be finishing out their high school careers in the annual all-star game that raises money for the Northern Kentucky Football Coaches Association college scholarship fund.
With additional financial support from St. Elizabeth Healthcare, the coaches are able to give $500 in college scholarship money to one senior from each of the 20 teams that are part of their association.
This year’s list of scholarship recipients includes Ludlow quarterback Justin Blackburn and Ryle running back Jake Chilsholm, who both had record-setting senior seasons.
Chisholm rushed for a school record 2,315 yards and 33 touchdowns. He set a Northern Kentucky single-game rushing record by picking up 449 yards on 42 carries against Simon Kenton.
Blackburn finished with more than 3,000 all-purpose yards to set a school record. In addition to rushing for 2,116 yards and 35 touchdowns, he passed for 1,190 yards and 14 TDs.
Eddie Eviston of Covington Catholic is head coach of the East All-Stars. His roster consists of players from Bellevue, Brossart, Campbell County, CovCath, Dayton, Dixie Heights, Highlands, Newport, Newport Catholic and Simon Kenton.
Cooper coach Randy Borchers is in charge of the West All-Stars that includes players from Beechwood, Boone County, Conner, Cooper, Holmes, Holy Cross, Lloyd, Ludlow, Ryle and Scott.
All tickets will be $8 with the gates opening at 6 p.m. The scholarship presentations will take place at halftime. After the game, most valuable players awards will be given to a player from each team. The coaches will also present this year’s Chris Vier Courage Award to Holmes graduate Stanley Niceley.
The football game is part of the St. Elizabeth Healthcare All-Star Series that begins Wednesday with all-star games in volleyball at Dixie Heights and boys soccer at Tower Park. The series also includes a fast-pitch softball game on June 14 at Dixie Heights and baseball game on June 18 at Dixie Heights.
FOOTBALL PLAYERS RECEIVING $500 SCHOLARSHIPS
Beechwood — Daniel Mescher (Mount Union). Bellevue — Austin Balch (Northern Kentucky). Boone County — Dylan Ward (Union). Brossart — Bryce Donnelly (Kentucky). Campbell County — Jack Comer (Northern Kentucky). Conner — Trevor Courts (Thomas More). Cooper — Justin Schlarman (Cincinnati State).
CovCath — Grant Dyer (Dayton). Dayton — Colin Fiedler (Northern Kentucky). Dixie Heights — Garrett Vallandingham (Thomas More). Highlands — Michael Dunn (Butler). Holmes — Stanley Niceley (Louisville). Holy Cross — Dylan Couch (Northern Kentucky). Lloyd — Jordan Fann (Thomas More).
Ludlow — Justin Blackburn (Mount St. Joseph). NewCath — Jason Decker (Northern Kentucky). Newport — William Beamon (Louisville). Ryle — Jake Chisholm (Dayton). Scott — Nelson Perrin (Thomas More). Simon Kenton — Sam Holt (Eastern Kentucky)