It’s an honor for any recently graduated football player to participate in a summer all-star game that serves as an exclamation mark to the close of his high school career.

Hollidaysburg Area High School alum Brady Steiner and Claysburg-Kimmel graduate Mark Lattieri will share the distinction of playing in two straight all-star games on two consecutive weekends.

Both Steiner and Lattieri suited up as members of the South team in the Ken Lantzy Football Classic sponsored by First Summit Bank last Friday night at Johnstown High School’s Trojan Stadium, and both will participate as members of the South squad again in the Lezzer Lumber Classic, which is set for this Friday night at 7 p.m. at Bellefonte High School’s Rogers Stadium.

Steiner caught two passes, including a 23-yard touchdown reception, in the Lantzy Classic, helping the South to a 39-14 victory.

Both Steiner and Lattieri expressed their appreciation about being chosen for both the Lantzy and Lezzer Lumber all-star games.

“It’s an honor for sure, getting to meet all the new people from all the different schools in the area and making friends with players from all over the area,” said Steiner, who caught 45 passes, including 12 for touchdowns, as a senior during the 2024 season in helping Hollidaysburg reach the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals. “I’m hoping to have a couple more catches and score at least once again in this week’s game.”

Lattieri, who rushed for 17 touchdowns and over 1,400 yards in his senior season at Claysburg-Kimmel last fall, also feels grateful to be making two straight all-star game appearances on consecutive weekends.

“It’s pretty cool,” Lattieri said. “Normally you only get to play in one of them, so it’s an honor to get to play in both of them. Last week’s game was fun, with our team coming together and putting on a pretty good show. And I’m expecting our team to put on another pretty good show in this week’s game.”

Lattieri’s head coach at Claysburg-Kimmel, Chuck Kassick, will also be the South team head coach in Friday’s Lezzer Lumber Classic. The South squad held practices this week at Claysburg-Kimmel.

Clearfield coach Myles Caragein, a former University of Pittsburgh standout defensive lineman, will coach the North team. Both coaches were selected by members of the Central Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association.

“It’s an honor to be selected to coach in this game,” Kassick said. “I think that it’s also going to be a great experience for the assistant coaches, including several from our Claysburg staff.”

The South team is loaded with offensive talent. Tyrone grad Ashton Walk and Bellwood-Antis alum Holden Schreier will man the quarterback position for the South. A four-year starting quarterback at Tyrone, Walk threw for 3,014 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior for the Golden Eagles last fall, while Schreier threw for 1,583 yards and 14 touchdowns in his senior year at Bellwood.

“They threw for over 4,500 yards combined last season,” Kassick said of Walk and Schreier.

Along with Steiner, more offensive firepower will be provided for the South team by former Tyrone running back standout Seth Hoover, who rushed for 1,194 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, and former Tyrone wideout Trent Adams, who caught 48 passes, including 14 touchdowns, in his senior year. Hollidaysburg grad Jay Albarano made 31 receptions, including four TD catches, in his senior season for the Golden Tigers.

In a game which should highlight the offenses, both squads appear to be well-stocked at the skill positions.

“We have some very good athletes and we’re going to have to create ways to get them the ball in space,” Kassick said of the South team’s skill position standouts.

The North squad, which practiced at Clearfield High School this week, is also loaded offensively. Bellefonte grad Liam Halterman and Curwensville grad Tyler Dunn will share the quarterback position for the North. Halterman passed for 1,194 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for 646 yards and 13 scores, as a Bellefonte senior, while Dunn threw for 1,326 yards and eight touchdowns, and rushed for 745 yards and eight scores, in his senior year at Curwensville.

Former Clearfield star running back Brady Collins will front the North team’s ground game after rushing for 2,652 yards and 36 touchdowns last season. Glendale’s Jimmy Sutton, who rushed for 856 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, will also be in the North team’s backfield.

“Most of these guys are big weapons,” Caragein said of the North team’s skill talents. “We’re excited to see how we can get them to adapt and work together on our team for this game.”

Caragein said that his players and coaches are approaching the Lezzer Classic — which to date has awarded $179,000 in college scholarship money to its players — with enthusiasm.

“We’re excited — the coaching staff for our (North) team is excited, and the kids are excited,” Caragein said. “They want to win.”