White selected to N/S Classic
Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 30, 2003
No matter how many honors Matt White receives, he still gets excited.
White has already been named first team all-district and first team All-Ohio in Division IV. Now he can add a spot on the South squad in the 58th annual Grange Insurance Ohio High School Football Coaches Association All-Star Classic.
"It's exciting," White said. "This may be my last game, so I'm going to enjoy it."
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound White was selected as a linebacker although he gained much more attention as a bruising fullback in the Ironton Fighting Tigers offense.He helped Ironton to an 8-3 record an a berth in the regional semifinals.
"If they want me to play linebacker, I'll play. I'll play wherever they want me to play," White said.
The game will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Columbus Crew Stadium. The game will featured 68 of the top graduating seniors across Ohio.
White could still play fullback. The South squad lists only three running backs, Ty Simmons of Gallipolis, Jeremiah Bolden of Portsmouth and Drew Cannon of New Lexington. All three are halfbacks.
"If they run a three-back set, I think I'll be in there," White said.
White was the focal point of the Ironton offense last season. He carried 203 times for 1,083 yards in eight and half games, led the team in scoring with 18 touchdowns and 110 points, and also caught four passes for 87 yards.
Due to injuries, White missed all but three plays of the South Point game, half of the Gallipolis game, and did not dress out for the Campbell County, Ky., game. He thought the injuries would keep him from making the All-Ohio Classic.
"I didn't think I'd make (the All-Ohio Classic) at all. I thought because I sat out a couple of games and didn't do a lot early, I wouldn't make it. But I picked it up at the end and finished strong," White said.
The South roster will include Ohio State verbal recruit Brandon Maupin 6-6, 280, DL) of Lakota West, quarterback Ben Mauk of Div. IV two-time state champion Kenton, and Notre Dame recruits Brady Quinn (6-4, 215, QB) and Chinedum Ndukwe (6-3, 205, WR) of Dublin Coffman.
The idea of having quarterbacks like Mauk and Quinn throwing the ball had White excited.
"I don't care if we just throw it all the time. It would be awesome to watch those guys," White said.
The South head coach is Curt Clifford of Portsmouth. Assistant coaches are Kurry Cummins of Cin. Mt. Healthy, Marty Arganbright of Coshocton, Gregg Miller of Columbus Brookhaven, Bill Nutt of New Lexington and Andy Olds of King Mills Kings.