Valdosta High running back Tim McClain eyes running room during Monday’s practice for the War of the Border All-Star game tonight at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

VALDOSTA — From Cole Rigdon to Tim McClain to coach Rance Gillespie, the answer was much the same — being a member of the War of the Border All-Star game is an honor.

Now in its seventh year, the War of the Border All-Star game’s second event of the year is at 7:30 p.m. today at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium with the south Georgia All-Stars facing a group of All-Stars from the Gainesville, Fla., area. The All-Star games are designed for high school seniors that haven’t yet committed to a college and looking for one more chance to catch a recruiter’s attention according to Mike Gammons, the Georgia liasion.

That opportunity is something Rigdon, an offensive lineman from Lowndes is grateful for.

“It means a lot to me,” he said. “Not everybody was asked to play, and to be picked to be able to play was a real honor to me.

“The way I look at it going in, it’s my last chance to maybe get a chance to go. And it’ll be my last time strapping it up in high school and I wasn’t going to turn down that offer.”

For McClain, a running back from Valdosta High, the All-Star game is not only a final chance to represent VHS and the Wildcats, but also a chance to represent his teammates that weren’t chosen for the game.

“I’ve got to represent a lot of the guys that couldn’t come from my team,” he said, and he will be joined by 12 of his VHS teammates in the game. “That’s pretty much the most significant thing to me, that and getting another chance to play.”

That chance has also led to some fun, with players from 12 south Georgia schools — including Valwood, Berrien, Clinch County, Cook and Lanier County in addition to Lowndes and VHS from the area — joining together.

“We’ve had a fun week,” said Gillespie, who is serving as Georgia’s head coach this week in addition to being the VHS head man. “Like I said earlier in the week it’s a great event from a lot of different avenues. The kids have come and they’ve worked hard. We’ve gotten the stuff in that we’ve needed to get in and we’re looking forward to tomorrow night. Hopefully the weather will hold out for us.”

Added McClain: “The practice is fun, but just the social hour has been so much fun. It’s been crazy. I’ve met so many people and so many relationships, it’s just crazy.

“I feel honored. I feel honored, for them to choose me it’s crazy. Out of the people they could choose, they chose me so I’m honored.”

That’s a sentiment that is shared by most.

“It’s a real huge honor to me,” said Rigdon, who is one of 12 Vikings on the roster. “When coach Mac (Randy McPherson) asked me if I’d like to play in it, there was no doubt I would. Just to be able to represent Lowndes High School and south Georgia, it’s a big honor.”

Added Gillespie: “We’re really honored to be a part of it. We really appreciate what Mike does. The opportunity for us to work with these kids and to be a part of their lives for a week, just to spend time with them and get to know them, it’s a bunch of fun. And you get to be around kids that you’re not around every day. And you get some of yours for an extra week and that makes it fun.”

Now, though, there is work to be done too when the lights come on tonight.

“I told our kids Monday that we’re really proud of the brand of football that we play in this area,” Gillespie added. “We think we put pretty good products on the field on Friday nights across the area. And now it’s our time to represent that area against an area that thinks they put a pretty good product on the field as well. It’ll be competitive. There’ll be a scoreboard on, so we want to win.”

Bazemore-Hyder Stadium

Today

South Georgia Roster

No. Player, School Pos.

3 DeMarcus Jackson, Lowndes S

4 Alex Jackson, Valwood CB

6 Dondre Lacey, Clinch County S

7 Kaleb Whitfield, Valdosta WR

8 Tyree Johnson, Atkinson Co. QB

9 Trinity Cooper, Clinch County QB

10 Donte Dixon, Valdosta DE

11 Teshaun Mathis, Atkinson Co. WR

12 Jeremiah Smith, Cook WR

13 Tra Durden, Valdosta CB

14 Ryan Hobbs, Lowndes WR

15 Jacob Burt, Lowndes WR

16 Ahmad Sneed, Lowndes RB

18 Brant Garrett, Coffee S

19 Marik Merine, Valwood CB

20 Robert Moore, Irwin County RB

21 Savieus Stoney, Valdosta RB

22 Lacarvis Sears, Coffee RB

23 Jaqauveous Williams, Lanier Co. RB

24 Alex Brown, Lowndes CB

25 Austin Davis, Lanier County LB

26 Ricco Ramsey, Valdosta WR

27 Devante Glaze, Atkinson Co. LB

28 Tyrus Wesley, Atkinson Co. RB

29 Austin Lord, Coffee K

30 Corveon White, Lowndes DT

31 Ross Sutton, Tiftarea Academy LB

32 Tim McClain, Valdosta RB

33 Brian Smith, Valdosta TE

34 Ty Jones, Atkinson Co. CB

35 Kantevious Riley, Atkinson Co. CB

38 Malik Holley, Turner County RB

39 Torrell Roundtree, Valdosta LB

42 Mykell Collier, Irwin County LB

44 Nathan Brantley, Lowndes LB

50 Spencer Joiner, Cook LB

52 Malik Austin, Lowndes DT

53 Jameon Johnson, Atkinson Co. DE

54 Jaylon Wright, Valdosta DT

55 James Traylor, Cook DE

56 Chandler Taylor, Iwrin County OL

57 Bryan Roe, Lowndes OL

58 Calvin Lane, Cook OL

59 Dee Turner, Cook OL

63 Quantavious Williams, Atkinson OL

64 Cole Rigdon, Lowndes OL

65 Michael Wright, Lowndes DT

67 Kajuan Jones, Coffee OL

68 Dallas Parker, Turner County OL

70 Marcillo Brockington, Lanier Co. OL

72 Josh Buckles, Cook DE

73 Leonardo Colmenero, Atkinson OL

77 Robert Wilcox, Irwin County DT

78 Ryan Carter, Valdosta OL

80 Noah McMinn, Tiftarea Aca. WR

81 Kyle Flowers, Berrien TE

88 Brennan Goodson, Valdosta K

90 Joseph Smith, Lowndes DE

96 Julian Frasier, Valdosta DE

97 Jamari Chisholm, Valdosta DT