Shrine All-Star Football Game : Prep Stars Gather Again Before Paths Diverge

Former Servite teammates Derek Brown and Garrett Greedy will play the final game of their high school football careers Saturday night, then they’ll follow different paths after the 38th Shrine All-Star game ends.

For Greedy, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound linebacker with the South squad, the game will be a chance to punish high school ball carriers one more time before starting his college career at UCLA. Kickoff for the Shrine game is 6 p.m. at the Rose Bowl.

His goal for the game?

“Survival,” he said. “And to get out of there unscratched.”

His conservative approach may be uncharacteristic for a linebacker with mine-field intensity, but, after all, he has a college scholarship to protect.

The Shrine game takes on a different meaning for Brown, a 5-11, 175-pound tailback. Sure, he has played in all-star games before, but this one will be the last time he plays competitively for at least a year.

Last week, Brown learned he must sit out his freshman year at Nebraska after failing to meet National Collegiate Athletic Assn. academic standards under Proposition 48.

Brown had hopes of playing as a freshman at Nebraska, a rarity at the school. Instead, he will attend classes and work out on his own, but will retain his scholarship.

Brown said he’s frustrated by not meeting the required score of 700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. He said he is upset with the publicity about his ineligibility.

“I care about what goes on with me and Nebraska,” Brown said. “I care a lot about it. It bothered me at first when I didn’t pass. But now it’s time to move on and prepare for next year. And this (game) is the first step.”

Usually easy-going, Brown is taking a serious approach to the Shrine game. No joking around. No fun and games. Just practice twice a day.

Brown said practices for the Shrine game have been “much more intense” than workouts for last month’s Orange County All-Star game. Brown rushed for 121 yards on 27 carries and returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in the Orange County game.

“Usually no one talks at these practices,” he said. “It’s all business. It’s been pretty tough. It’s been like Hell Week.”

Former Crespi Coach Bill Redell, who is coaching the South team with Tim Burroughs of San Bernardino, said Brown and Greedy have been impressive since practice began Thursday.

Greedy will team with former Serra linebacker Erik Simien, who will attend Notre Dame in the fall.

“Greedy has been outstanding,” Redell said. “And Simien hasn’t been a surprise at all. He’s absolutely a man among boys.”

Brown will join former Crespi running back Russell White in the South backfield. White signed to attend Cal, but will be ineligible under Proposition 48. Brown rushed for 2,305 yards last season, the best in the state by a prep running back, and scored 28 touchdowns. White ran for 1,390 yards and 20 touchdowns in 1988, and set state records for career rushing (5,988 yards) and touchdowns (94).

“I couldn’t have asked for two better backs there,” Redell said. “Derek Brown is every bit as good as people said he would be. He has a tremendous work ethic. He’s such a great talent. He’s even better than I thought he would be.”

Brown, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, will need all the speed he can muster on Saturday. Chasing him will be a towering North defensive line that includes Eric Mahium of Pacific Grove (6-4, 240 pounds), Scott McAdams of Tracy (6-4, 275 pounds) and Derek Stevens of Bakersfield (6-4, 250 pounds).

“Size isn’t what matters,” Brown said. “It’s how you play the game.”

Greedy agreed.

“My motto is ‘speed kills,’ ” he said. “We have (former Hawthorne quarterback) Curtis Conway, who is one of the fastest players in the nation, and Brown and White. They’re dang fast.”

Former Fountain Valley standouts Dave Henigan and Glenn Christy have withdrawn from the South team.

Henigan, a 6-1, 185-pound quarterback, has been bothered by a sore rotator cuff on his left (throwing) shoulder. A Times All-Orange County selection last season, Henigan said he also needed more time to prepare for his college career at the University of the Pacific.

“I leave for (Stockton) on Monday,” he said. “The game’s on Saturday, so that would have given me only two days before I leave.”

Christy, a 6-3, 255-pound offensive lineman bound for Golden West College, recently underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right ankle, according to Shrine officials.

Jason Uhl of Mater Dei is one of three future USC players expected to participate in the Shrine game. Uhl, a 6-4, 240-pound defensive lineman, will be on the South team along with future Trojan teammates Terry McDaniels of Pasadena and Len Gorecki of Damien.