Arcari, Connolly To Represent Tewksbury In Shriners Classic

It's been more than two decades since played in the Shriner's Football Classic, but he clearly remembers that feelings that players experience when they're chosen to compete with the best in the annual summer high school football showcase.

"You can tell how special it is from the minute you show up at the first practice," said Aylward, who played in the 1987 game, a few weeks after he graduated from Tewksbury High. "All the linemen are big kids and they all can run. A lot of the starting quarterbacks you know aren't even playing quarterback, they're playing defense. It seems like everybody there's a great athlete. It's a real honor."

A pair of 2011 Tewksbury High graduates, and , will be representing Tewksbury High in the 37th annual Shriner's All-Star Classic Friday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. Connolly and Arcari will be two of over a dozen players from the Merrimack Valley Conference who will play in the game.

Dracut's passing duo of quarterback Matt Silva and receiver Chris Malonis, Mehuen star quarterback Cam Carroll, and Central Catholic defensive back Xavier Peralta and Linebacker Trae Mussumara are among the notable local players who will take the field as part of the 50-member North Squad. Another 50 college-bound players will represent the South Squad.

Arcari will play football at Merrimack college in the fall and Connolly will play football at Curry College. 

"It's a tremendous honor," Aylward said. "These kids are the best of the best. For us to have two players on that roster is a pretty big thing."

The 100 rostered players represent 73 high schools throughout Massachusetts. Shawsheen Tech's Al Costabile is the head coach of the North Squad.  Costabile led Shawsheen to the 2010 Division 4 Super Bowl championship last December.

The annual all-star game is sponsored by the Aleppo Shriners and the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association. The game benefits the Shriners Hospital for Children and has raised $900,000 for the charity to date.

Every year, Shriners Hospitals for Children provides care for thousands of children
with severe burns,  orthopedic conditions, spinal cord injuries, and other medical conditions in a family-centered environment with no financial obligation to patients or their families.

Tickets for the game can be purchased through the Aleppo Shriners' Wilmington location by calling 978-657-4202 ext. 20, or at the Gillette Stadium Ticket Office.

Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster, by calling 800-745-3000, or at www.ticketmaster.com. 

"It a great event for a great cause," Aylward said. "They've played at Brandeis (University) for the past few years but they're hoping that by moving it to Gillettte (last year) they'll get an even bigger turn out."

Download the movie

Download the movie

Download the movie