GLENDALE — It’s yet to set in for Dan Scheper. In fact, he’s trying not to even think about it.
But when tonight’s Hall of Fame All-Star Football Game at Bassett High in La Puente concludes, Scheper will have played his last football game.
“It really hasn’t hit me and I don’t think it will hit me until that final whistle blows,” said the three-year St. Francis High starting offensive lineman. “I haven’t really thought about it much because I’m having so much fun.”
Scheper, along with former Golden Knights teammate Kyle Morgan, the Glendale High trio of Arshak Abramyan, Zane Archer and Mario Cruz and the Crescenta Valley threesome of Tanner Farwell, Parker Haleen and Clay Sierra are all part of the West Team, which faces the East when kickoff comes around at 7:30 p.m.
For Scheper, Morgan and Cruz, it is their second all-star contest of the summer after playing on the victorious West squad in the Valley Youth Conference East-West All-Star game on June 15.
That game, coupled with tonight’s, have given Scheper a rare chance to get in a few extra snaps before giving up his days on the gridiron, as he will attend Notre Dame University in the fall, where he intends to play rugby.
“I really did see myself playing in college, but got a reality check when I stopped growing,” said Scheper, a 5-foot-11 guard.
Morgan and Haleen on the other hand have both indicated they’ll likely be on Glendale Community College’s roster this fall.
For Haleen, a hard-hitting middle linebacker, the Hall of Fame game has been a pleasantly different experience from his average June.
“It’s definitely been a fun experience,” Haleen said. “Hitting with pads in June, it’s definitely different.”
Haleen, an All-Area and All-Pacific League first-team selection, notched 85 tackles and three interceptions for the Falcons in finishing a stellar career. Sierra, who played his only season of football for the Falcons in 2007, grabbed 28 catches for 536 yards and five scores en route to becoming a first-team All-Area and All Pacific League selection. Farwell, an offensive lineman, Archer, a multi-purpose skill player, Morgan, a defensive back, and Scheper were also all-league and All-Area picks.
Cruz was a standout at linebacker for the Nitros, while tallying more than 100 tackles, and Abramyan is an offensive and defensive lineman.
