The East-West All-Star football game is scheduled for this Sunday at Grimsley High School”s Jamieson Stadium, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. This event has a rich history, having been played during the summer for many years before being moved to December to enhance the level of competition and draw larger crowds.
Among the coaching staff for the West team are three former coaches from Salisbury High School, including head coach JK Adkins. A graduate of Freedom High and Appalachian State University, Adkins previously served as the offensive coordinator under head coach Joe Pinyan when the Hornets clinched a state title in 2010. He has held head coaching positions at South Iredell, Patton, East Wilkes, and Mount Airy, and is currently the head coach at Freedom. Adkins has led teams to state championships at Mount Airy and has earned the title of state coach of the year three times.
Another notable figure on the West staff is Jonathan Oliphant, head coach at Lake Norman. Oliphant is a graduate of Mooresville High School and Catawba College. Before taking the helm at Lake Norman, he spent two years as an assistant coach at Salisbury followed by a lengthy tenure at Mooresville. He has been leading Lake Norman for the past eight seasons.
Brian Hinson, who made a name for himself as a player at East Montgomery and Catawba College, is also part of the West coaching staff. Hinson found success as a head coach at East Rowan before moving to the collegiate level at Coastal Carolina and Catawba. His time at Salisbury was marked by coaching two regional championship teams and a state championship squad in the 2020 season, which was played in the spring of 2021 due to delays. After serving one season as the athletic director at Salisbury, he returned to coaching at West Cabarrus and has recently completed his first season at Davie.
The West coaching staff also includes Ryan Habich from Watauga, Sherman Holt from Swain County, and Joey Rigsbee from Grimsley. The roster features a mix of talented players from various schools, showcasing a diverse range of skills and potential.
This year”s East-West All-Star game promises to be an exciting showcase of high school talent, with many players looking to make a name for themselves as they transition to the next level in their football careers.
