Guilford County kids on the West All-Star football team…

There are six Guilford County kids on the West All-Star football roster. Kendall Bratcher and Joseph Hayes from Northeast Guilford, Demarcus Ferguson of Page, Ryan Kurzec from Ragsdale, Josh Pless of Western Guilford, and Kenneth Lindsay from Gibsonville and Western Alamance High School. Assistant coach Gary Angel from Northeast Guilford is also with the squad.

Kendall Bratcher
Kendall…Northeast Guilford High…5-8, 175…wide receiver…coached by Tommy Pursley…as senior, named All-Conference, All-County, NCPreps.com All-State, team captain…as junior, named All-Conference, All-County, team captain…as sophomore, named All-Conference, All-County…set school record with 16 touchdown passes in one season…also competed in track and field his sophomore year…member of Honor Roll…signed an athletic grant-in-aid with Wofford College where he will major in accounting…wants to pursue a career as a certified public accountant…his brother Travis is his role model…his favorite college athlete is Brandon Flowers…favorite pro athlete is Vince Young…says “I feel honored and privileged to be in the all-star game. I expect to get better at what I love to do, and that is playing football and enjoying the experience.”

Demarcus Ferguson
Demarcus…Page High…6-1, 228…linebacker…coached by Kevin Gillespie…as senior, made 72 tackles (28 solo), 5 sacks, 1 interception returned for a TD…as junior, made 50 tackles (10 for losses), 2 interceptions (including 1 returned for a TD), 1 blocked punt returned or TD….recipient of the Hammer Award…also played basketball…plans to attend Ferrum College where he will major in sports management…wants to pursue a career in anything dealing with sports…his mother is his role model…favorite college athlete is Marcus Nelson…favorite pro athlete is Ray Lewis…says “I’m excited to play in this all-star game, and I think it is a great honor for me. I expect to gain more character as a person, more friends, and get more exposure.”

Joseph Hayes
Joseph…Northeast Guilford High…6-3, 290…offensive lineman…coached by Tommy Pursley…as senior, named All-Conference, team Blocker of the Year…as junior, named All-Conference, team Blocker of the Year…honor roll and Perfect Attendance Award recipient…signed an athletic grant-in-aid with UNC Pembroke…wants to pursue a career as a teacher and coach…his paster Gene Taylor, is his role model…favorite college athlete is Tyrod Taylor…favorite pro athlete is Julius Peppers…says “It is a great honor to play in a game of this stature. I hope to find out how good our area is compared to other areas.”

Ryan Kurzec
Ryan…Ragsdale High…6-3, 250…offensive lineman…coached by Tommy Norwood…as senior, named All-Conference, All-Area…graded out of 87% for the year…recipient of team’s Offensive Lineman of the Year Award…also wrestled…named Scholar Athlete…member of National Honor Society…signed an athletic grant-in-aid with Western Carolina University where he plans to major in secondary education and athletic training…wants to pursue a career as a teacher, coach, or athletic trainer…his father Jim is his role model…favorite college athlete is Toney Baker…favorite pro athlete is Dan Morgan…says “I am extremely honored to have this opportunity to participate in the all-star game, and I am very excited to play. I hope to grow in experience from participating and gain integrity that coincides with this great privilege.”

Kenneth Lindsay
Kenneth…Western Alamance High…6-4, 206…linebacker…coached by Hal Capps…as senior, named All-Conference, All-Region… had 5 interceptions and 1 TD…on offense, had 57 receptions for 957 yards and 15 TDs…also competed in basketball where he averaged 16.4 points per game as a senior and was named All-Conference and All-Region…undecided about where he will attend college…plans to major in accounting…wants to pursue a career as a private accountant…his father is his role model…favorite college athlete is Wayne Ellington…favorite pro athlete is Lebron James…says “I feel like being selected to play in the all-star game shows that I did something to be all I can be on the field. I hope to gain more field experience.”

Josh Pless
Josh…Western Guilford High…6-3, 242…defensive lineman…coached by Chris Causey…as senior, named All-Conference, All-Area, team MVP…as junior, named All-Conference, All-Area, team MVP…as sophomore, named All-Conference…also named All-Conference and All-Region in wrestling…signed an athletic grant-in-aid with UNC Pembroke…wants to pursue a career as a teacher and football coach…his role models are his mother and Coach Causey…his favorite pro athlete is Pat Tillman…says he feels “honored to be selected to the all-star team. I hope to gain experience with improved abilities having the opportunity to play with and against the best in our state.”

Gary Angel
West assistant coach is entering his 16th season as an assistant coach at Northeast Guilford High in Greensboro…has also coached at Western Alamance High and South Caldwell High and Trinity High…since he has been there, NE Guilford has won 3 conference titles and made 15 playoff appearances…has also coached track where his teams have won 4 conference titles and he has been named Conference Coach of the Year 4 times…native of Winston-Salem, NC…1978 graduate of Charlotte Independence High where he played football…1980 graduate of Brevard Jr. College and 1982 graduate of Appalachian State University…married to the former Teresa Story for 22 years and has 1 son, J.D. who is entering his junior year at Appalachian State University…says “I am very honored to be selected to coach in the All-State football game. I feel football is a great game that teaches the values of life: hard work, discipline, dedication, and striving for excellence.”
*****from Jim Modlin, courtesty of David Willoughby, North Carolina Coaches Association*****