Former Legacy football standout Aiden Serrano said it will be a bittersweet moment when he steps on the field to play one last high school football game.
While the record-breaking wide receiver for the Rebels will continue playing football at UT-Permian Basin in the fall, he will look to close out his high school career in style when he plays for the Blue Team in the Marks Family All-Star Football Game put on by Permian Basin FCA at Odessa’s Ratliff Stadium at 7 p.m. Saturday.
It’s the last high school game, so it’s kind of emotional," Serrano said. "It’s the last time I get to play with this group of guys, people that I’ve grown up with.
This is the third year for the FCA all-star football game as it provides an opportunity for area athletes to play one last high school game, bond with players from around the Permian Basin, and practice their Christian faith.
It’s a great experience," Serrano said. "It’s a great opportunity to learn about the Lord, follow through his footsteps and learn about the journey that he had and the sacrifices that he made for us to live and breathe this beautiful day. It’s also about having fun and playing sports.
Recent Midland High graduate and outside linebacker Ryder Miller, who will be playing for the White Team, said he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to play in this game after being told about it by past participants.
As I’ve gone from a sophomore, to junior and then senior, it’s been pretty cool to know guys who have done it," he said. "They told me every year to do it if you get the opportunity.
It's really a blessing to come out here and play football with some of the guys I grew up with and meet some new guys from all over the Permian Basin. And to experience being coached by some of the best coaches in the Permian Basin.
This year’s head coaches for the game are Bryan Hill from Greenwood, who will lead the White Team, and Chris Joslin from Coahoma, who will lead the Blue Team.
Hill, who served as an assistant during last year’s all-star game and also was an assistant for the Big Country FCA game while he was at Abilene Wylie, said the event is a fantastic opportunity for a lot of different reasons.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes – the Permian Basin Chapter, is active at Greenwood High School and I think there’s over 40 huddle organizations in the region," said Hill, who just completed his second year with the Rangers. "So, just to get to work with that staff is fantastic, getting a chance to work with some of our players for the last time is incredible. Some of these guys have an opportunity to make a decision this week that will positively impact the rest of their lives. You never turn down an opportunity to be part of something like that.
Joslin has also served as an assistant in the game for the past two years, and he said he can really enjoy it this year serving as a head coach instead of making calls as a coordinator.
It’s a huge honor and a huge experience," said Joslin, who just completed his seventh year at Coahoma. "I’ve liked the last two years of being a part of it. I think it’s the best thing you can do to mold these guys that are going into the real world. It’s their last chance to be around us before they take off to do that deal. I think everything about it is exceptional and teaching them how to be men. And we get to use football to have one more chance to be around them.
Both coaches are expecting a competitive game as their rosters are evenly split with standouts from around the Basin.
“I’m really excited to see the best the Permian Basin has to offer,” Hill said. “I know that Coach Joslin feels the same way about his squad. We got some great players, guys that we read about last fall. To have a chance to have them on our sideline is pretty special.”
The competitive juices always come out. I think everybody believes this game is for fun, and it is. But once the ball kicks off, it’s about winning the football game on both sides.
Joslin also likes the composition of his team.
We did something different than we’ve done in the past. We went and picked kids so that we could go on one side of the ball, so the kids get to play more and they get to have the whole practice of learning what they’re doing instead of flipping back and forth," he said. "And so far, it’s been a whole lot better just because they’re only focusing on one thing.
The players say they look forward to having a good time on Saturday night and maybe talk some smack along the way.
I think it will be a fun experience," Miller said. "There’s a lot of us that know each other on both sides of the ball so it’s going to be pretty fun with a lot of talk.
Serrano said it's also fun to learn more about the other players and their backstories.
To have a group of random kids come together in three days and play a football game is kind of crazy," he said. "I expect some showtime on Saturday. I’m going to catch some touchdowns, I’m ready to go.
Football Blue Team Roster
No. Name School Pos.
00 Jose Aranda Crane OLB
0 Luis Ramos Fort Stockton LB
1 Xavier Zorola Lamesa DB
2 Austin Wilson Holy Cross Defensive End
3 Kade Adams Andrews QB
4 Armando Ramirez McCamey CB/WR
5 Kayden Iglesias Legacy WR
6 Santiago Medrano Odessa High WR/CB/QB
7 Benito Barrios Lamesa RB
8 AJ Navarrette Monahans OLB/HB
9 Brayden Cervantes Forsan S/RB/WR
10 Julian Williams Midland High DB/LB
11 Tra Jarrell Odessa High S
12 Jaden Rogers Legacy QB/WR
13 Landon Robles Permian WR/OT
14 Emilio Godina Stanton OLB/RB
15 Hector Zamora Lamesa ILB
16 Mauricio Perez Kermit QB/OLB
17 Jesus Navarro Pecos WR
20 Martin Baeza O'Donnell S/LB/RB
21 Luke Frysak Legacy DB
22 Jaidyn Vineyard Coahoma RB/LB
23 Christian Zubiate Odessa High DL
24 Jorge Valdez Odessa High RB
25 Gabriel Baeza O'Donnell LB/DE/OTE
26 JP Uranga Permian RB
29 Jason Maltos Legacy DL/K/P
32 Andrew Hodge Legacy RB/HB
33 Ejay Ortiz Fort Stockton LB
34 Canin Addison Klondike DL/OL
45 James "JJ" Morales Lamesa n/a
46 Dayton Minihan Legacy DE/LB
50 John Lara Kermit C/OG/DT
52 Max Pierce Andrews C
54 Josiah Patton Coahoma G/T
55 Gio Meza Midland High OL
58 Jovanni Allen Midland High OL
62 Diego Juarez Kermit LT/DT
66 Darrion Mitchell Midland High DL
71 Adiel Perez Coahoma T/G
75 Darren Wilson Legacy OL
78 Reid Turney Stanton OT/DT
85 Aiden Serrano Legacy WR/RB/QB
94 Sebastian Sanchez Permian DE
99 Jonah Ovalle Midland High DL
Coaches: Head coach Chris Joslin, Coahoma; Abel Garcia, Balmorhea; Chad Tutle, Coahoma; Dave Park, Coahoma; John Fellows, Kermit; Joseph Hood, Littlefield; Andrew Fellows, McCamey; Erik Hartman, Odessa High; Tate Smith, Permian
Football White Team Roster
No. Name School Pos.
00 Cooper Bowman Iraan WR/S
0 Dominick Taylor Odessa High LB
1 Fabian Garcia Jr. Pecos RB/CB
2 Tyran Williams Permian Slot
3 Aden Brito Midland High LB
Houston Stockton Forsan RB/DE
5 Angel Reyes Crane WR/CB
7 Wyatt Holmstrom Seminole QB
8 Cornell Hunt III Midland High WR/RB/DB
9 Landon Wilkerson Odessa High S/CB
10 Lucas Bernard Crane FS/WR
11 Ryder Miller Midland High LB
12 Bryce Davis Coahoma WR/SR
13 Jake Benedict Stanton OLB/RB/QB
14 Rylan Nunez Fort Stockton WR
15 Datch Flanigan Borden County DE/LB/TE
17 Ayden Castillo Midland High WR/DB
18 Jaden Cerna Permian WR
21 Leeroy Milan Andrews RB
22 Preston Dehlinger Garden City TE/DE/RB
24 Xander Meridyth Midland High DB
25 Jayden Tally Wink DB/QB
26 Michael Vasquez Pecos S/WR
31 Matthew Willock Iraan LB/T
33 Dylan Soltero Wink LB
40 Lee Bingham Greenwood DT
42 Joshua Chavez Legacy DL/DE
44 Ryan Sanchez Odessa High Defensive End
50 Agustin (Guti) Valrela Midland High LB/RB
51 Gannon Morado Iraan T/DE
52 Nathan Marquez Monahans LB
53 Nicholas Prieto Pecos OT
54 Jadyn Hernandez Monahans DL
55 Bre'on Lewis Midland High DL
56 Caleb Salinas Greenwood OL
57 Orlando Villegas Crane C/DL
61 Grayson Ellis Wink C/DL
63 Justin Greene Permian OL
64 Toby Lewis Compass Academy C/OL
70 Hector Vasquez Permian OT
71 Ayden Pando Legacy OL
75 Jack Freeman Compass Academy DE/OT
77 Carlos "CJ" Leyva Crane OL/DL
98 Terry Ojopagogo Legacy DT/DE
Coaches: Head coach Bryan Hill, Greenwood; Garrett Brandenburg, Greenwood; Brien Burchett, Greenwood; Larry Galindo, Greenwood; Clint Hartman, Legacy; Paul Martinez, Midland High; Brandon Jones, Monahans; Brian Gibson, Wink.
Athletic Trainers
Tavi Marroquin, Andrews; Alyson Montague, Andrews; Avabella Baccari, Compass Academy; Kirsten Cornwell, Compass Academy; Analy Payen, Compass Academy; Ellyson Wright, Compass Academy; Iliana Bowden, Legacy; Brooklyn Dow, Legacy; Alexya Legarretta, Legacy; Alexa Luna, Legacy; Paige Acosta, McCamey; Melani Rios, McCamey; Breann Tarango
Coaches: Tom Lechenburg, UTPB; Jada Connally, West Texas Orthopedics
Cheerleaders
Nevaeah Morris, Big Spring; Brinley Woods, Big Spring; Sarah Amber DeLaTore, Crane; Alina Garza, Crane; Jaque Ortega, Crane; Emily Miers, Klondike; Femi Odubiyi, Legacy; Alexandra Rauda, Legacy; Izabella Granado, Midland High; Alexis Patterson, Midland High; Albany Solis, Midland High; Addison Hodge, Reagan County
Coaches: Joni Lacefield, Coahoma; Amanda Ramos, Permian
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