Treasure Coast Outback Bowl

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - The 16th Annual Outback Steakhouse Treasure Coast High School All-Star Football Game, one of the premier high school all-star football games in the country. This game is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 9th at John I. Leonard High School in Greenacres, Florida. Kick-off will be at 7:35 pm.

This event will be organized by the Treasure Coast chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (NFFCHF). This game will feature two squads (American and National) that will showcase the top 100+ players from the 47 high schools in the local six-county area: Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Hendry and Glades Counties.

The two head coaches for the game will be Errick Lowe (head coach; Lake Worth High School; Lake, Florida) and Chris Hutchings (head coach; Fort Pierce Central High School; Fort Pierce, Florida). Lowe will coach the National team while Hutchings will be in charge of the American squad.

The American team’s players will come from the following area high schools: Clewiston, Fort Pierce Central, Fort Pierce Westwood, John Carroll, Jenson Beach, Jupiter, Jupiter Christian, Glades Central, Glades Day, LaBelle, Martin County, Moore Haven, Okeechobee, Pahokee, Palm Beach Central, Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie West Centennial, South Fork, Treasure Coast, Wellington, and William T. Dwyer.

The National team’s players will come from the following area high schools: American Heritage, Atlantic, Benjamin School, Berean Christian, Boca Raton, Boca Raton Christian, Boynton Beach, Cardinal Newman, Forest Hill, Inlet Grove, John I. Leonard, King’s Academy, Lake Worth, Olympic Heights, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Lakes, Park Vista, Pope John Paul, Royal Palm Beach, St. Andrews, Santaluces, Seminole Ridge, Spanish River, Summit Christian, Suncoast, and West Boca Raton.

For the ninth year in a row, there was a “live” broadcast of the game on radio - WSWN (900 AM), based in Belle Glade, Florida.

“High school football is a major part of life in south Florida, especially for the schools on the banks of the Lake Okeechobee,” said WBGF’s Mike Diogostine. “Each and every year, a number of players from schools ‘around the Lake’ are selected to play in this game. We were delighted to have the opportunity to broadcast the Outback Steakhouse All-Star Game for those football fans who enjoy hearing the game on radio.”

“I am truly going to enjoy the entire experience,” said Lowe, who has served as an assistant coach in this game in previous years. “This year’s squad for the National team is a great group of football players who are motivated to learn from the coaches and play hard on every play from the opening kickoff to the final whistle in the fourth quarter.”

“I was honored to be asked to be a head coach in this all-star game,” said Hutchings. “It’s a unique opportunity to work with some of the greatest coaches and athletes in the Treasure Coast. I know that all of our players and coaches are extremely excited to participate which should make for a high-caliber all-star game.”

“Outback Steakhouse has been honored to be the only title sponsor in the 16-year history of this particular high school all-star football game,” said Megan Narkewitz, marketing manager for Outback Steakhouse. “This is always a first-class football game which showcases the top talent in the area.”

“At John I. Leonard High School, we will do everything possible to make this a memorable time for the players, coaches, cheerleaders, parents, and fans. Our state-of-the-art facility has plenty of seats for all who plan to attend,” said John I. Leonard High School principal Terry Costa. “It is an honor to have this game played on the Lancer campus. The atmosphere will be like post-season football.”

Lowe, 32, has been the head football coach for the last seven years at Lake Worth High School - the “Trojans.” He played his high school football at Lake Worth High School under then coach Don Rossa. He graduated from Lake Worth High School in 1995. He played in this Outback All-Star game in 1994, which will make him the first person to play in this game and be a head coach in the event. In college, he played four years at Auburn University as a wide receiver under then coach Terry Bowden. While at Auburn, the Tigers played in four bowl games - the Independence, Peach, and two Outback Bowls. In 1997, the Tigers won the SEC Western Division, but lost to Tennessee in the SEC Championship. He graduated from Auburn in the spring of 1999.

Hutchings, 38, just completed his third year at the helm of the football program at Fort Pierce Central High School - the “Cobras.” During the past three seasons, he has led the Cobras to three district championships. Earlier in his coaching career, Hutchings was the offensive coordinator for his high school alma mater (Greencastle, Indiana) from 1992-2000. He then spent three years as the offensive coordinator for Highland Community College in Kansas followed by a stint as the offensive coordinator at Upper Iowa University, a Division II school. As a high school player, he was a quarterback and a cornerback. He then played football at Greenville (IL) College as a quarterback. He graduated from Greenville College in 1992.

Each team has a corps of assistants. For the National Team, they are Doug Uccellini (Lake Worth High School), Bill Ameral (Royal Palm Beach High School), Kenny Berry (Berean Christian School), Alonzo Jefferson (Palm Beach Lakes High School), John Carter (Boynton Beach High School), and Wayne Monroe (John I. Leonard High School). For the American Team, they were Chuck Kenyon (Martin County High School), Kevin Wald (John Carroll High School), Hilary Poole (Port St. Lucie High School), Jim O’Neal (St. Lucie West Centennial High School), Doug Kerr (Martin County High School), Bill Powers (Jupiter Christian School), and Ron Parker (St. Lucie West Centennial School).

As for each squad’s practice sessions, the American team will practice on January 4, 6, and 8 at Whispering Pines Park in Port St. Lucie. On January 5 and 7, the American squad will practice at Pahokee High School in Pahokee. Practices will start at 6:00 pm and run till 8:30 pm. The National Team will practice at Memorial Park in Lake Worth from January 4-8 from 4:30 pm till 7:00 pm.

Listed below are the results and the head coaches of the 15 previous Outback Steakhouse Treasure Coast High School All-Star Football Games. The National Team leads the overall series, 9-6:

Date National Coach-School (Score)                                                         American Coach-School (Score)

Dec. 9, 1994 Sam Budnyk-Cardinal Newman (14)                              Paul Lombardo-Ft. Pierce Central (10)

Dec. 8, 1995 Rick Casko-John I. Leonard (15)                                                   Charlie Persson-Jupiter (14)

Dec. 14, 1996 Al Sutton-Suncoast (14)                                                          Cary McKee-Okeechobee (12)

Dec. 13, 1997 Ron Ream-Benjamin School (0)                                                 Paul Krasula-South Fork (17)

Dec. 12, 1998 Verryl Floyd-Atlantic (23)                                                             Tom Cherry-Wellington (0)

Jan. 8, 2000 Dave Clark-Royal Palm Beach (21)                                       Milton Watson-Glades Central (10)

Jan. 13, 2001 Ray Berger-Santaluces (31)                                                        Jack Daniels-W.T. Dwyer (24)

Jan. 12, 2002 Bill Bretherick-Spanish River (3)                                                   Jim O’Neal-Centennial (19)

Jan. 11, 2003 Terry Gough-John I. Leonard (19)                                              Charlie Persson-Jupiter (30)

Jan. 17, 2004 Willie Dodaro-Olympic Heights (21)                                 Lenny Jankowski-John Carroll (35)

Jan. 15, 2005 Tim Tharp-Palm Beach Gardens (21)                            Craig Dobson-Glades Day School (13)

Jan. 16, 2006 Rick Swain-Boca Raton (15)                                                           Leroy Foster-Pahokee (14)

Dec. 16, 2006 Brian Coe-John I. Leonard (15)                                      Eric Patterson-Royal Palm Beach (23)

Dec. 15, 2007 Kevin Fleury-Palm Beach Gardens (21)                               Chuck Kenyon-Martin County (26)

Jan. 10, 2009 Brian Dodds-Park Vista (15)                                                  Bill Powers-Jupiter Christian (10)

As in the past, two Most Valuable Players were selected after the game - one from each team. That award was sponsored by the Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Company. Listed below are the former MVPs of this game:

Date National Team MVP-School                                                             American Team MVP-School

Dec. 9, 1994 Edwin Ferguson-Suncoast                                                   Alvin Swoope-Ft. Pierce Central

Dec. 8, 1995 Gari Scott-Suncoast                                                                     Josh Gutierrez-South Fork

Dec. 14, 1996 Heath Evans-The King’s Academy                                     Adrian Owens-Ft. Pierce Central

Dec. 13, 1997 Jim Harris-The Benjamin School                                    Shannon Washington-Okeechobee

Dec. 12, 1998 Clinton Jones-Santaluces                                              Jacques Chester-Ft. Pierce Central

Jan. 8, 2000 Doug Parker-Atlantic                                                                            Eric Green-Clewiston

Jan. 13, 2001 Charles Frederick-Pope John Paul                                   Yamon Figurs-Ft. Pierce Westwood

Jan. 12, 2002 Rickey Bethel-Santaluces                                                   Santonio Holmes-Glades Central

Jan. 11, 2003 Brian Monroe-Palm Beach Gardens                              Tommie Bradley-Ft. Pierce Westwood

Jan. 17, 2004 Toney Collins-John I. Leonard                                                  Albert Dukes-Glades Central

Jan. 15, 2005 Jacoby Ford-Cardinal Newman                                                Randy Phillips-Glades Central

Jan. 16, 2006 Cordero Drummond-Palm Beach Lakes                                                 Robert Love-Pahokee

Dec.16, 2006 Nick Provo-John I. Leonard                                                Josh McGregor-Glades Day School

Dec.15, 2007 Jake Owen-Park Vista                                                          Lyle Dankenbring-Martin County

Jan. 10, 2009 Brett Swider-Spanish River                                           Austin Lewis-Jupiter Christian School

The officials for this game will be an all-star line-up, coordinated by Yetta Greene, athletics administrator for the Palm Beach County School Board, and Bruce Hawthorne of the East Coast Football Officials Association. The cheerleaders will be organized by Kayla Lundy, the head cheerleading coach at Suncoast Community High School in Riviera Beach, Florida. Lundy was also an all-star cheerleader in this game in 2000. She will be assisted by Kavana Williams, the assistant cheerleading coach at Suncoast. The on-site coordinator for the upcoming all-star game will be Scott Siegel, the athletic director at John I. Leonard High School.

Gold Coast Physical Therapy Associates, Inc. (6169 Jog Road, A-11, Lake Worth, FL) is donating certified athletic trainers for both teams in the game and is providing all the necessary supplies that are typically required for a high school football game - for both the players and cheerleaders.

The officials for the game will come from the East Coast Football Officials Association. They are donating their professional services for the game. The officials will be¬ Jeff Brown (Referee), Tracy Tinker (Umpire), Eric Hartman (Linesman), Sean Dye (Line Judge), David Campbell (Field Judge), Brian Larsen (Side Judge), Mike Arnette (Back Judge), and Keith Berg (Timer).

Some of the other major sponsors of this chapter’s activities include Nicklaus Golf Equipment Company, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, East Coast Football Officials Association, Gold Coast Physical Therapy Associates, Inc., C.R. Chick’s, Webster’s Team Sports, John I. Leonard High School, and the School District of Palm Beach County.

Since the inception of the Treasure Coast chapter of the NFFCHF in 1992, more than $160,000 in scholarships has been awarded to just over 300 football scholar-athletes and cheerleaders.

With 119 chapters and over 10,000 members nationwide, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in America’s young people. Find more at www.footballfoundation.org.