Nathan Hutchinson
RICHMOND — For the second-straight year, Madison Central will have a significant presence at the state’s top showcase for high school football players.
Seniors Keshawn Simpson, Larry Warford and Tyler Mays have all been selected to the participate in the second-annual Kentucky East vs. West All-Star Football Classic.
The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Western Kentucky University.
Central coach Kenny Turner will also serve as an assistant for the East All-Stars. The team is being coached by Boyle County head coach Larry French.
The West All-Stars will be coached by John Myers of Russellville.
Last year, Turner was an assistant for the East All-Stars and Central standouts Patrick Ford and Ricky Rhodes both played in the game.
“It just speaks highly of the things that the kids in our program have been able to achieve,” Turner said of the All-Star selections. “I am just really proud of them.”
Warford (6-foot-4, 350-pound offensive tackle) transferred to Madison Central from California two years ago and immediately became an impact player. He anchored a dominant offensive line that allowed the Indians to rack up more than 2,000 rushing yards in each of the past two years, including 2,353 yards in 2007.
He verbally committed to Kentucky as a junior and officially signed with the school in February.
Simpson (6-foot-2, 210-pound running back/linebacker/defensive line) had 755 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns (14 rushing) last season. He was also fifth on the team in tackles. Simpson missed much of his junior season with a foot injury, but as a sophomore, rushed for a team-high 685 yards.
Earlier this year, Simpson signed with Western Kentucky.
Mays (receiver/defensive back) led the Indians in receptions (16), receiving yards (210) and interceptions (four) last season. The special teams standout also returned three kicks for scores.
He recently signed with Kentucky State.
Mays is expected to play wide receiver in the All-Star game and Simpson should see action at both running back and defensive end.
For Turner, it will be the fourth-straight season he has been selected to coach in an All-Star Game — Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star Game in 2006 and 2007 and East vs. West All-Star Game in 2008 and 2009.
The East All-Star includes players from: Boyle County, Trinity, Middlesboro, Mason County, Lafayette, Pulaski County, Belfry, Lincoln County, Bryan Station, Scott County, Clark County, Lexington Catholic, Johnson Central, Boone County, Mercer County, Newport Catholic, Whitley County, Highlands, Lexington Christian, Southwestern, Paul Blazer, Ballard, Dunbar and Bell County.
General admission tickets to the game are $10 and children under 6 are free.
