Daily News Stars to Say Farewell to Prep Football

Divided into East and West teams by the San Diego Freeway, 70 graduating seniors from the San Fernando Valley and neighboring areas will bid adieu to high school football in the 11th annual Daily News All-Star Football Game tonight at Birmingham High. Kickoff is set for 7:30.

With just 10 practice days allowed for each squad, the game’s emphasis will be on showcasing talent rather than running complicated plays.

“What’s really pleasant is that we’re spending time instructing them just where to go,” West Coach Bob Francola said. “We spend very little time instructing them how to do it. These are very well-coached, talented kids.

“Hey, they’re all-stars.”

Francola, the coach at Kennedy High, will head the West’s offense while Jim Benkert of Westlake will coach the West’s defense.

Hart’s Mike Herrington and Notre Dame’s Kevin Rooney will coach the East.

Among the stars on the West roster are Oregon State-bound running back Eric Hale of Simi Valley, USC-bound lineman Jason Keiderling of Reseda, and Colorado-bound tight end Christian Fauria from Crespi.

Francola said that he has divided his skill-position players into two groups that will alternate playing time with each possession.

Herrington and Rooney will have to perform a similar juggling act to give playing time to top East players such as running back Jerome Casey of Sylmar, San Diego State-bound quarterback Michael Wynn of San Fernando, Oregon-bound running back Howard Blackwell from Hart, UCLA-bound linebacker London Woodfin from Sylmar, and Fresno State-bound defensive back Joseph Vaughn, also of Sylmar.