By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
One coach and seven local football players were named to the staff and rosters for the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star game held in Fayetteville on June 24.
Beebe coach John Shannon, whose team reached the 5A playoffs, has been named to the East staff headed by Rivercrest’s Kelly Chandler.
Shannon had one player, tight end/defensive end Reece Totty, named to the East squad.
Searcy had three players selected while Cabot, Riverview and Harding Academy each had one.
Sylvan Hills, Lonoke, North Pulaski and Jacksonville — a team that reached the second round of the 6A playoffs under first-year head coach Rick Russell — were closed out of the voting.
Searcy lineman Drew Rambo, fullback/linebacker Mike Brown and running back/defensive back Steven Seitz will represent the Lions in the game against the West squad, which will kick off at 7 p.m. in the University of Arkansas’ Razorback Stadium.
Cabot, which advanced to the 7A state quarterfinals, placed lineman Nathan Cash on the East team.
Running back/linebacker Chayse Parson will represent Riverview, which reached the 3A playoffs and bowed out in the second round.
Harding Academy quarterback Seth Keese, arguably the marquee player of the group, was selected to the East team after leading the Wildcats to the 3A state championship game.
Rivercrest won the final, 14-10, at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium in December.
Keese was The Leader offensive player of the year after he accounted for 3,550 yards last season.
He was 182 of 282 passing for 2,297 yards and 20 touchdowns and he rushed 172 times for 1,253 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Keese, who injured his knee in last year’s playoffs, earned all-state honors this season.
There were no Leader-area players or coaches selected to the all-star volleyball teams.
