All Star Athletes Play at Shriners Football Classic at Gillette Stadium

It’s been a Massachusetts tradition for 32 years. Every June, some of the best senior football players in the state get together for one last game of football.

Known as the Shriners All Star Football game, the yearly contests raises money for the Shriners Hospital for Children. This year's contest at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough featured seven members of the Hockomock League playing for the South team. Mansfield's Kyle McGuire saw action on the offensive line.

The game started not with a bang, but with a surprise. The South team caught just about everyone off guard with a pooch kick to start the game. With no one on the right side of the field, the short kick left Attleboro's Nate Robitallie unguarded to catch the ball and start the game with possession.

"I just ran up and caught it. We practiced it like twice and worked it into the game," said Robitallie.

That would not be his only big play of the game. Robitallie would put the South on the board with a catch in the end zone to make it 7-0 with the extra point.

"It was a slant. I went across the middle no one covered me and caught it," said Robitallie. 

North would answer quickly. A 5-yard pass from Cal Carol to Anthony Arcari tied the game up at 7. A field goal would give the North team a 10-7 lead at halftime.

Continuing the high level of competition, the South roared back in the second half to take a 14-10 lead with 7 minutes left in the third. The touchdown came off of a Tyler Park pass to Jack Carrie for 15 yards and the lead.

In the fourth quarter, North would drive twice into South territory. A fumble recovery from Rob Barrus put an end to the first drive but North would not be denied during the second drive.

Carrol scored from 1 yard out to give the North a 17-14 lead with very little time left in the fourth quarter.

The South team would have one more chance to win, but Justin Hood who recorded three sacks in row on the South’s final possession erased all hope. A final kneel down locked up a 17-14 win for the North in what was a very close and well played game by both sides.

“Our kids played well. North played very well,” said South Coach Jim Sullivan.

While the score said the North won, the real winners were everyone who had the chance to play.

“Its an honor. They pick the best of the best so it’s an honor just to be picked. That's awesome. That's so cool,” said Foxboro’s Max Guy.

While players like Guy were excited to play in Gillette Stadium, others were just happy to be able to play in the game.

“It means so much. It’s an experience you don't want to forget. It was fun to be apart of,” said Robitallie.

With the game over, it is not only the end for the seniors who played but for South coach Jim Sullivan, who recently retired as the head coach of Norwell. In the end it was Sullivan’s words that summed up the game best.

"Both teams won and more importantly Shriners won," he said.