At this time of year, the only football on anyone's mind involves the New England Patriots' offseason acquisitions. But every summer, the Shriner's Classic All-Star game provides an avenue for local football fans to see some of the best high school players in Massachusetts square off on opposite sides of the ball.
Tonight at 7 p.m. at Bentley College, the Shriner's Classic North squad will take on its South counterpart, and several Waltham High School stars will suit up for the North team. Running back C.J. Mula, linebacker Jim Sweeney and tight end Spiro Siannas were all selected to play in the Classic after stellar senior seasons with the Hawks. They practiced with the North team for the last two weeks in preparation for tonight's game at Bentley, the new home of both Siannas and Sweeney, who will be freshmen Falcons this fall.
Sweeney has been especially impressed with the level of competition over the last two weeks, and insists that playing against better players has improved his game in a short period of time.
``Everyone is really good,'' Sweeney said. ``It's really fun. Everyone is really cool, too.''
``It's just a lot of fun,'' Siannas said. ``You get to play with kids who you never thought you would get along with, like Everett and Cambridge kids.''
``You can't lose focus,'' Mula said. ``You're playing with the best of the best and if you lose focus then something's going to happen.''
Both Sweeney and Siannas received some scholarship money to play for the Bentley football team next season, and they both live in close proximity to the Bentley campus so it won't be much of a commute from the confines of home.
``(Bentley is) right down the street,'' said Sweeney, who will attend Bentley's freshman orientation on Monday. ``From the upper part of campus, it's three minutes from my house.''
``I could probably hit Bentley with a rock from my house,'' Siannas joked. ``It should be a great time.''
Mula will play for Merrimack next season after he averaged 7.8 yards per carry for Waltham last season.
Mula sustained a rough injury in the middle of last season in the form of a broken leg and didn't return to athletics until he ran for the track team in the spring.
Mula, however, is ready to suit up again and is looking forward to tonight's game as well as his arrival at Merrimack.
``It'll be good,'' Mula said about attending Merrimack in the fall. ``I'm excited for things to get going.''
Tonight's game will be the first action all three Hawks have seen since the fall season, and the North team had a walk-through session yesterday at Bentley to prepare for its matchup with the South team.
Mula took some handoffs from scrimmage, Sweeney got some reads in on the defensive side and Siannas, at the tight end position, ran a few routes before they all called it a day around 6:30 p.m.
``We're kind of hyped up about (the game),'' Siannas said. ``We got goose bumps and butterflies and all of that now.''
Tonight's game is somewhat of a preview for Sweeney and Siannas, who hope to be playing in games at Bentley by next season, although Sweeney is the first to admit that freshman have it the toughest.
``I've heard that freshman have a really hard time getting in games,'' he said. ``Maybe I'll get in on some special teams.''
Siannas is used to playing both sides of the ball at Waltham, suiting up as a tight end and a defensive end.
But the Shriner's Classic will give Siannas a better idea of the college football life, as he will only play on offense due to the abundance of talent on the all-star team.
Siannos excelled in both football and basketball during his senior season at Waltham, and with his big frame could be used at multiple positions, which could increase his chance at playing time in the fall.
