13 locals set to play in Shrine Bowl

At a 2 p.m. press conference today at the Florida Times Union, the rosters for the 19th Annual Florida Shrine Bowl were released to the media.  

The annual football game pitting the top local high school football players from all of the surrounding counties, including Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau, Putnam, Union and Bradford, will take place this Saturday Jan. 18 2:30 p.m. at Mandarin High.      

Tickets are $7.50 for adults and $3 for children under twelve and are tax deductible with proceeds benefiting the Shriners Hospital for Children. 

The teams are
North-Terry Gilliam (White) head coach, assistant coaches are from Parker, Bishop Snyder and White.  Team is comprised of kids from Duval and Nassau counties.  

South-Dennis Clemmons (Forrest) head coach, assistant coaches are from Fleming Island and Bartram Trail. Team is comprised of kids from St. Johns, Clay, Putnam, Bradford, Union counties along with Mandarin and Forrest High.

South local kids
RB-Erik Dremore (St. Joseph)
QB/RB-Kendrick Smith (Menendez)
DB-Damon Lawrence (Bartram Trail)
DB-Mitch Swanson (Nease)
LB-Josh Malandrucco (Bartram Trail)
OL-Ben Wells (St. Augustine)
DL-Christian Detrude (Bartram Trail)
DL-Trey Sumner (Bartram Trail)
DL-John Watts (Bartram Trail)
OL-Steve Sindad (Menendez)
DL-Tyler Tayse (Bartram Trail)
WR-Jordan Anderson (Nease)
WR-Xavier Zayas (Bartram Trail)

Invited but declined : Kiwan Jakes (St. Augustine) on recruiting visit, Riley Haynes (Nease), Hunter Bates (Nease), Graham Bates (Nease) and Andrew Parker (Bartram).

Notable North players include Nigel Carr (First Coast) FSU commit and A.J. Jenkins (Parker) Illinois commit.

North players declining invitations but on the roster, Jermaine Thomas (First Coast) FSU commit, Montell Harris (Trinity) Duke commit, Jamie Harper (Trinity) undecided and Avis Commack (First Coast) FSU commit.

Practices will be held Monday-Thursday at Ed White and Forrest High's.

Players will visit the Wolfson Children Hospital on Friday and participate in a banquet Friday night at the Morroco Shrine in Jacksonville.

In addition, the 2008 game will be dedicated to the late J.D Hall, who suddenly died June 24, 2007 of an apparent heart attack. Hall, former Mandarin High football coach, played in the very first shrine game and voluntered every year to coach in the game.