Photo by Breeana Laughlin

After years of hard work and commitment, three local athletes have been selected to play in the 31st annual Lions’ All-Star Football Classic.

Ethan Ostrom and Andy Miller of West Valley, and Anderson player Brandon Howard are among the North State’s best graduated seniors picked for the midsummer classic.

For many athletes, this is the culmination of their football careers. It’s both an honor and an opportunity to play in what for many young athletes, will be their last big game.

“It’s nice to be recognized as one of the best in the area,” said Andy Miller, who is set to play tight end for the North in the all-star game. Miller and his counterparts say it’s exhilarating to be invited to play in an event they’ve grown up watching.

“It’s a really special experience just to be with all of these other great players playing football,” West Valley Grad Ethan Ostrom said.

The athletes are playing under direction of Foothill coach Bryon Hamilton for the North team. The athletes came together for a camp and practice at Shasta College before they face off against the South at Oroville’s Harrison Stadium on Saturday, July 26.

The North holds a 16-13-1 advantage in the all-time series. But last year the North was assaulted by the South in a 45-19 defeat. But local North team athletes say they are more than ready for the challenge.

The football players have come together to play with athletes that, up until now, have been fierce competitors. But, they said they’ve been able to set differences aside and enjoy getting to know their new teammates.

“It’s been kind of fun,” former Cub Brandon Howard said. “You look at some of the guys and go, ‘I was busting heads with you last year and now I’m playing with you,” he said.

“We’re all the same, just from different schools.” Miller said. ‘We are actually getting along really well.”

The football players say most of the preparation they are putting in involves coming together strategically as a team.

“It’s not so much the physical side, because our coach, Coach Hamilton, knows that we are physical specimens. That’s why we’re here,” Ostrom said. “We have to get the offensive scheme down, and on the defensive side we have to know what we’re doing. So it’s a lot of mental preparation.”

West Valley football coach Greg Grandell and Anderson Cubs coach Lance Gosch said their former football players are well deserving of their all-star status.

“It’s a heck of an honor,” Cubs coach Gosch said. “You are one of the top players of the section.”

“If there’s an all-star from our team last year, Brandon sure was it. He’s a hard working kid, and he’s very coachable,” Gosch said. “We had him in three or four different positions last year. Wherever we put him, he did what we asked him to do.”

West Valley Eagles coach Grandell also had

strong praises for his former football players.“Andy is a real powerful player: straight-ahead, hard-nosed and his running game was great,” he said.

Coach Grandell said Ostrom was probably the best team captain he’s ever had.

“He was a good person on campus and a tenacious player on the field,” Grandell said. “He’s a great football player. He’s fast, strong, smart - just an outstanding person.”

The Cubs and Eagles graduates are ready for the big game.

“We have a really stacked team as far as talent. We have a lot of guys that can get it done,” Ostrom said.

“I think we’re going to beat them pretty good,” said Howard.