As John Starr discusses the players he’ll have under his direction at the Tennessee-Georgia All-Star Football Classic on Saturday in Chattanooga, his enthusiasm is definitely contagious. He rolls off the names of some of the best football players in Greater Rome and Northwest Georgia with the emphasis of a longtime fan that has met his heroes. “We’re putting (Pepperell’s) Maurice Hayes next to Torey Wells from Rome on the defensive line and that’s tough,” Starr said. “A shock has been Jack McCutchins (Chattooga) coming in as a defensive back and stepping up at quarterback,” he continued. “We’re putting him with guys like (Terrell) Burley from Rome and (Timmy) Baker from Cartersville and Model’s Brandon Brown at wideout.” In case it hasn’t come across yet, Starr is having a blast as the head coach for the Georgia All-Stars in the fifth annual border war that takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at UTC’s Finley Stadium. The Chattooga Indians head coach is taking part in his fourth Tennessee-Georgia contest but his first as a head coach.

“It’s been awesome,” Starr said. “It’s been the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

(Rome News-Tribune)