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The all-star game, featuring the top seniors from last season's prep teams from Sanilac, Tuscola, and Huron Counties, will kick-off at 7 p.m. at the Cass City Recreation Park.

Lester, who has guided the Red Raiders to the school's only two playoff appearances, both coming in the last three seasons, cannot wait to get involved with the practices this week and for the game to start on Saturday evening.

"It'll be fun," he remarked. Then, he chuckled, "I'll be excited to have some size.

"But, to see all these athletes, the level of competition, the best-of-the-best... it's exciting to work with these kids, especially ones I've had to coach against."

Ben Varney, a spokesman for the all-star game committee, said the actual idea for this event came from Al Dadacki, who coaches junior high football in Cass City, along with Varney.

"He mentioned to me one day that 'we really need to start an all-star game'. Then we talked with a few others guys," noted Varney. "We talked to some people from Monroe County that has being this, and we might be the only other ones doing this now. Everything we've did (with this event) is modeled on (Monroe's)."

Varney said he is starting to hear some buzz about the game, which be will affiliated with Cass City's 4th of July weekend celebration. The town will light off its annual fireworks display on Saturday evening.

"We're hoping, to be frank, that the parents and the friends of the players will all come out for the game. We're hoping football players that are juniors, freshmen, whatever, will show up because they're the ones that are going to play here some day," said Varney. "We think it's generating a lot of interest."

Lester, meanwhile, hopes his team can put on an exciting performance. The Southeast squad is comprised of all GTC East schools -- Brown City, Deckerville, Harbor Beach, Marlette, Mayville, Sandusky and Ubly -- plus, Cros-Lex from the BWAC and Peck. CPS, Memphis and Dryden from the NCTL. The Northwest features GTC West teams -- Bad Axe, Cass City, Lakers, Reese and USA -- plus, Caro and Millington from the TVC and Akron-Fairgrove, Kingston, North Huron, and Owen-Gage.

The spread offense, which Lester loves to use at Marlette, will not be featured Saturday night. The committee decided teams should use more conventional offenses. Many of the area schools use the Wing-T.

"We're using the 'I' formation," said Lester. "I think it'll be a lot easier, just from a timing aspect. I just don't think (with limited practices) that we can put together a Wing-T in a week."

The Southeast roster includes 14 players from the seven Sanilac County schools. They are: Brown City -- Doug Kennedy, Jamie Beals; Cros-Lex -- Jerry Torrez, Derek Sheridan, Chas Phipps, Nick Lazurka; Deckerville -- Eddy Zapinski, Billy Ray Howard; Marlette -- Dave Bliss, Austin Comment, Andy Warner, Jon Hayward; Peck -- Michael Mann, Brian Jozlin; Memphis -- Robert Siewert, Karson Kirkindall, Ben Abraham; Mayville -- Matt Cook, Mark Lieber; Harbor Beach -- Bret Buchholz, Jason Volmering, Brion Gornowich.

Expected to play on the Northwest squad, coached by Josh Stern, Cass City, will be: USA -- Tim Holland, Lance VanHoost, Carl Bednarski, Tyson Valentine, Erik Kuhl; Akron-Fairgrove -- Adam Foster; Bad Axe -- Adam Smith; Kingston -- Jahmaul Spencer; Caro -- Corey Robinson, Brandon Juracek; Reese -- Chad Kern, David Reif, Josh DeFord, Josh Bierlein; Lakers -- Anthony Goins; Brett Maurer; Cass City -- Mark Koepf, Jesse Walitalo, Tommy Parrish; Millington -- Dustin Griesing, Richard Osborn, Corban Stewart, Garrett Stier, Spencer Summersett; Owen-Gage -- Eric Zaleski; North Huron -- Brad Neumayer, Kurt Dhyse, Brad Podlesney.

Derek Neumayer from Sandusky and Isaac Zimmer from Reese, who will play in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association All-Star game in East Lansing on July 19 have also invited to participate. Several others received initial invitations to compete in the game but declined because of previous commitments or other reasons

The All-Thumb Football Classic committee, in conjunction with the Thumb Sportswriters Association, secured the rosters.

Several college coaches are also expected to be on hand to scout the players.

Admission to the contest is $5.