by Danny Carpenter
SPORTS WRITER
(June 19)
With one day of practice left before Saturday's 45th Annual North-South Football Classic, the North squad is ready for action, according to assistant coach and Robert C. Byrd head coach Richard Iaquinta.Both teams have practiced at West Virginia State College since Monday.
"The kids are starting to get over their sore-
ness," Iaquinta said.
"The kids from our area are doing fine. ... That's why they are starting."
The Big 10 Conference will produce the North squad's starting guards in Marshall Cox of Robert C. Byrd and Shawn Bennett of Liberty.
South Harrison's Brent Fenstermacher will rotate with Roane County's Paul Burdette at fullback.
Grafton standouts Brad Westfall and Jay Garrett also will start -- Westfall at defensive back and Garrett at tight end.
With an influx of talented players on offense, Iaquinta believes the North "can do a little of everything" when it has the ball.
"We are going to run from the pro (formation) or I and run a little motion," Iaquinta said. "But our guards are real quick, so we are looking to trap some, too.
"But with the rules, we have to have a multiple number of offensive plays."
According to the rules, each team has to throw at least 15 passes during the contest and must run a basic 5-2 defense.
"These kids can play football," Iaquinta said. "Right now we are just fine-tuning everything for Saturday."
n LIKE AN ETERNITY: Cox and Fenstermacher both believe this week may have been the longest of their prep football careers.
"My legs are still sore but I am ready," Cox said.
"This has been a long week," he said.
Fenstermacher agreed.
"I am getting a little tired of beating up on each other," Fenstermacher said.
"I'm ready to hit some new people."
n DOUBLE DUTY: Grafton's Jay Garrett will take a timeout from football to play in the annual North-South Basketball Classic tonight at Capital High School.
He will be joined by Liberty's Brian Ross, North Marion's Chris Freeman and Fairmont Senior's Rashod Kent on the North roster.
Game time is 7:30.