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Sports

Rivals of Gwinnett Game Creates Unlikely Comrades

Last weekend's all-star football game meant Meadowcreek and Norcross players, GAC and Wesleyan players huddled together.

In games, only eyes are visible inside face masks, and words spoken aren't congenial. Football players typically know opponents by reputation, statistics and acclaim.

But the Saturday's Rivals of Gwinnett all-star game for seniors at Mountain View High was opportunity for players at Norcross schools to unmask their enemies and make friends.

"I usually know people by team and number, and now I know them by face and name," Norcross linebacker Seth Hinsley said. "I've been growing up playing against these guys. I never thought I'd be playing in a game together with them."

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Led by Norcross High coach Keith Maloof, Hinsley and teammates Demetrius Alston, Charlie Rhea, John McWilliams, Silverberry Mouhon and Ben Bradley were on the same team Saturday as Meadowcreek's Jonathan Moore and Keith Hegger. On the opposite all-star team, coached by Grayson's Mickey Conn, were city counterparts Brinson Porter, Kevin Brou and Jordan Pope of Wesleyan and David Harber and Matt Carothers of Greater Atlanta Christian.

The Wesleyan and GAC players' team won the all-star game, 39-29. They overcame deficits of 7-0 in the first quarter, 14-10 in the second and 22-19 in the third, before taking the lead for good, 25-22 on Collins Hill quarterback Taylor Heinicke's 7-yard touchdown run with 10:53 to play.

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The Blue Devils and Mustangs' all-star team practiced Monday through Thursday at Central Gwinnett. Likewise, the Wolves' and Spartans' squad worked out at Grayson.

Striving toward a common goal in just four practices in frigid weather facilitates bonding among strangers.

"Usually, we're enemies," said Norcross defensive end Demetrius Alston. "But when we all have the same goal, you see they're cool people.

"As long as everyone's trying to accomplish the same thing together, we all got along pretty good."

Alston's 101 tackles this season made him Norcross' third-leading tackler, behind McWilliams and Hinsley. That undoubtedly was a talking point with all-star teammates, several of whose cell numbers Alston took and might continue a casual friendship with.

"I'll probably talk to some of those guys some, probably about their college [scholarship] offers and stuff like that," he said.

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