Former Poly High players run through drills this week as they prepare to face Banning alumni at Veterans Stadium on Saturday.

Rivalries don’t end with graduation.

If anyone ever tries to tell you different, be sure to take them out to Veterans Stadium this Saturday, when four teams made up of local alumni will battle as if the League title is on the line. Some of them haven’t played high school football in fifteen years. Other moved on to college ball, the Arena League or even the NFL. But they’re all coming back to light old flames this weekend. And they can’t wait to get a crack at each other.

It’s a Long Beach classic at 3:00pm on Saturday when Millikan will face Lakewood, and a true slugfest is set for 6:00pm when Banning comes to town to challenge Long Beach Poly.

The games are being hosted by All Pro Athletics USA, and they’ve spared no expense. Players will be in full gear, playing under the lights just like years past when all they wanted to do was impress some girls, maybe a few college coaches, and had to get home to study for that Calculus test in the morning.

As much as the showcase is about nostalgia, it’s also about showing off the extreme level of talent and ability in the Long Beach area. Millikan players are coming by the truckload to join their teammates, Lakewood is bringing a stacked squad, rumor has it that Banning has several guys that were recently sent home from NFL camps and Poly boasts a long list of Division One and even NFL talent.

Each team has their own pride to play for and will be carrying their school on their back, but Millikan has a little extra motivation. After a long battle, former Ram player J.T. Roberts recently lost his life to a heart condition. Roberts played on the 2003-04 Millikan team and this weekend, his teammates – even those who never knew him – have decided to dedicate their performance to their fallen friend. Visit JT-Roberts.ForeverMissed.com for more information on Roberts. He was only 24.

Whether with heavy hearts or excitement and passion, the players have been hitting the practice field hard for the last few weeks to prepare their bodies for the showdown. Poly co-captain Sharaud Moore was taking his teammates through drills this week. Moore has taught and coached track at Poly and is looking forward to getting onto the field one last time.

“I’ve taught these guys, I’ve coached these guys, and now we’re actually going to be teammates,” said the former Northern Iowa standout who played several years in the Arena Football League. It’s a testament to the depth of the Long Beach Poly team that a player with professional experience will play back-up at his position on Saturday. Top cornerback slot goes to former USC standout Darrell Rideaux. The Jackrabbits will also roll out players who suited up for Hawaii, Grambling and Washington State.

“We’re losing a lot of money in education, so this is a great way to give back to those kids,” says Moore, who after years of teaching in Long Beach is now a counselor for the Freedom Writers organization that helps students find opportunities through writing. “We’re looking for anybody to come out and just join in a night of football and family fun.”

The show on the field will be worth the price of admission alone; there’s no question about that. But you should know that your ticket is doing more than just paying for the equipment and field rental. Proceeds from the event will go straight into the Millikan and Banning program funds, while Poly plans to purchase new road sweats and Lakewood will install a new hydration system on their practice field.

Your money is going a long way and we’re going to help you save a few bucks in the process. At the ticket booth, mention “LBPOSTSports.com” and you’ll receive one half-off ticket with the purchase of another at full price. Kids under 10 years old will enjoy free admission.

See you at the game!