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So much for the difficulty of having complete strangers join forces for a high school all-star game.

That idea went out the window while Smithville’s C.J. Keeney and Kearney’s Tyler Trout carpooled to practice for the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Metro Classic, which is set for Thursday, June 18, in Blue Springs.

"It’s not as hard as you think," Keeney said. "Most of us are playing in college, and this is just another chance to play football and take a small step towards that. We all have the same goals out here."

Despite the fact many of the best recently graduated high school football players had only two weeks to come together as teammates for the annual all-star game, perhaps developing team chemistry is not such a chore after all.

"We’ve really come together in just a few days," Trout insisted. "It’s definitely an honor to be out here with these guys."

How important is this all-star game to the players?

Just ask Trout’s high school teammate Mark Krause, who had already begun classes and offseason workouts at Missouri Southern State University and commuted from Joplin every day for all-star practice the past two weeks. Krause drove near 300 miles round trip to attend practice, leaving him in the situation of going to bed around midnight and having to wake up for an 8 a.m. class.

"There wasn’t going to be anything stopping me from playing in this game," said Krause, the team’s starting fullback. "Just to be in the presence of the best athletes in Kansas City, it’s something else. I’m lead blocking for (Fort Osage’s) Dalton Krysa, the best running back in the city and certainly the best running back I’ve ever blocked for. I’m just happy to be here."

Most of the players agree with that. Most NCAA Division I-bound athletes have had to pass on the all-star event in recent years, but the game still features a large percentage of the top players from the metropolitan area.

While large-class high schools usually lay claim to the all-star roster spots, that didn’t turn out to be the case this year as Kearney sends four players to the game — second only to Blue Springs South’s five. Several small schools will be represented this year, including Lawson, O’Hara, Smithville and St. Pius X.

"It is humbling, but I hope I prove I belong," said John Danaher, St. Pius’ standout quarterback who will be playing defense in the all-star game. "I hope I can do justice for our school."

Sports writer Chris Geinosky can be reached at 389-6654 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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