Northern Kentucky football seniors gather for this year's East-West All-Star Game

Many of Northern Kentucky's top senior football players return to Dixie Heights this week for the St. Elizabeth Healthcare All-Star Football Game.

The all-star game features top seniors from 20 Northern Kentucky high schools that comprise the Northern Kentucky Football Coaches Association.

St. Elizabeth and NKFCA award $500 scholarships to a deserving athlete from each of the 20 high schools.

The game is 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Dixie Heights. Tickets are $8 and available at the gate. Only cash is accepted at the gate and no advance tickets are sold. Gates will open at 6 p.m.

The game is part of the annual All-Star Series sponsored by St. Elizabeth Healthcare, with every event at Dixie Heights.

The series starts with volleyball Wednesday, with the juniors facing each other at 6 p.m. followed by the seniors at 7:30 p.m.

Next week, the baseball series is Monday, with juniors at 5 p.m. and seniors at 7:30 p.m.

Softball has the same format on Tuesday, with juniors at 5 p.m. and seniors at 7:30 p.m.

There are three quarterbacks listed on the East roster: Jacob Leicht of Bishop Brossart, Preston Agee of Covington Catholic and Ethan Jefferson of Newport.

Leicht led the Mustangs to a 12-1 record last season. He is joined on the team by teammate Jed Martin, who rushed for 1,377 yards for the Mustangs.

Agee was an all-around performer for the Colonels, who finished 9-4. In addition to sometimes playing quarterback, he played receiver, defensive back and kick returner.

Other CovCath players include Trevor Wilson, one of the region’s top defensive players on the line; Reid Hummel, who made an impact at running back and defensive back; and top lineman Peyton Dietz.

Highlands’ Jake Welch, one of the region’s most athletic receivers, missed most of the football season due to injury but is slated to play one more game after winning his second state track championship in the 400 meters last Friday.

Dixie Heights’ representatives include one of the running backs in the region in Pierce Rohlman, one of the top receivers, Devin Holbert, and top linebacker Colin Smith.

Also on defense are one of the top defensive linemen in the region, Simon Kenton’s Joe Vormbrock.

Highlands’ Bob Sphire is the head coach of the East team. His assistant is Roy Lucas, Jr., who took over the Simon Kenton program in the offseason.

West team quarterbacks include Cooper’s Drew Warth, Boone County’s Skyler Sears and Scott’s Gus Howlett.

Holmes twin brothers Quantez and Tayquan Calloway will close their outstanding careers by playing in the game and contributing with their playmaking ability. Holmes finished 8-3 last season.

Record-setting Ludlow running back Braxten Newborn will also suit up. Top receivers on the team include Ryle’s Jameson Smith and Scott’s Cameron Patterson. Newborn and Tay Calloway rushed for more than 1,200 yards last season.

Representing 1A state champion Beechwood are linemen Tanner Jackson and Bryce Shepherd, and receiver/defensive back Parker Mason. Jackson is coming off a strong performance during Beechwood’s run to the state baseball quarterfinals last week.

Two of the state’s top linebackers will suit up in Ryle’s Gabe Savage and Jackson Belk. Conner’s Clayton Melcher, another top local LB, will be there.

Ryle’s head coach Mike Engler will be the head coach of the West team, with Lloyd head coach Kyle Niederman his assistant coach.

Here are the full team rosters, subject to change.

East team

Bellevue: Logan Allen, Braden Corley, Zach Noonchester, Bronson Ormes.

Bishop Brossart: David Govan, Jacob Leicht, Kaleb Lukes, Jed Martin, Alex Reis, Brad Reis.

Campbell County: Camden Abell, Q’Adyn Ashcraft, Johnny Eifert, Andy Lin, Josh Rittinger.

Covington Catholic: Preston Agee, Peyton Dietz, Reid Hummel, Robby Sandfoss, Trevor Wilson.

Dayton: Caden Caraway, Maveriq Catacora, Eric Jimenez, Juan Naranjo, Keith Souder.

Dixie Heights: Devin Gomez-Smith, Justin Hernandez, Devin Holbert, Pierce Rohlman, Colin Smith, Blake Stouffer, Gabe Thelen.

Highlands: Aidan Halpin, Jackson Higgason, Henry King, Kaleb Kissee, Eli LaFrange, Jake Welch.

Newport: Sean Back, Ethan Jefferson, Andrew Rath, Robert Sanders, Kaleb Thompson.

Newport Central Catholic: Kwintin Gilliam, Dominic Morgan.

Simon Kenton: Aiden Gill, Joe Vormbrock.

West team

Beechwood: Tanner Jackson, Parker Mason, Bryce Shepherd.

Boone County: Samuel Brown, Dvion Davis, Maury Kenny, Mike Lee, Devin Raines, Skyler Sears.

Conner: Caleb Barker, Cody Crawford, Mason Delph, Carter Lindemann, Clayton Melcher.

Cooper: Brady Bond, Niko Heister, Alex McEachern, Adam Sand, Alex Turner, Drew Warth.

Holmes: David Commodore, Aidan Dietz, Damian Green, Tay Calloway, Tez Calloway.

Holy Cross: Cade Lehmkuhl, Ian McDonald, Terrell Moses.

Lloyd Memorial: Jagur Eickhoff, Braxton Irwin, Jeremiah Lyles, Hayden Spensor, Caden Tomlinson.

Ludlow: Dustin Brewer, Lucas Lay, Braxten Newborn.

Ryle: Jackson Belk, Logan Orlando, Gabe Savage, Jameson Smith, Hunter Vaughan.

Scott: Damond Hacker, Gus Howlett, Sage Lalley, Cam Patterson, Zach Scheper.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Northern Kentucky East-West football all-star game returns Thursday