North all-star football coach Cates playing hurt

Tyler Cates is putting a new spin on playing hurt.

As coach of the North team for this week’s Miami Valley Football Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game, it’s on Cates (Covington High School’s coach) and South coach Butch Snider (Oakwood) to manufacture high-end functional units that have been hard-pressed to practice because of a multitude of other player commitments.

NORTH ROSTER: MVFCA All-Stars

Cates has additional concerns. He blew an Achilles tendon playing basketball last January. Two additional surgeries followed after an infection was detected and a bursa fluid buildup. That’s why he alternates between crutches and a scooter during practices at Northmont and leans heavily on assistant North coaches.

“I’m getting married this summer (July 8) and I was just trying to get in shape,” said Cates, who guided Covington to a 10-0 regular season in his debut with the Buccs last fall. “I played football, basketball and baseball from second grade on and never got hurt. Now, I guess I’m getting old.”

SOUTH ROSTER: MVFCA All-Stars

The North plays the South in this annual game that features 2017 area graduates at 7 p.m. Friday at Centerville High School.

As usual, the 10 designated practices for each team have been a challenge with players competing deep into the recent baseball and track seasons, summer jobs and distant locations. The Northmont will wrap up practice this week at Northmont High School and the South will split its final preparations at West Carrollton and Fairmont.

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Both teams will have about 45 players on their rosters. As these games often go, the defense will be limited in hopes of providing more offensive fireworks. No blitzing is allowed and the defense can rush just five defenders.

“It’s a pleasure and an honor to be coaching and be with that kind of talent,” Cates said. “The kids are all-stars for a reason. They’re phenomenal young men. I know they’re going to be successful in life. Our defense is our strong suit. Our defense is super fast and we have a lot of big guys who can move and they’re very physical.”

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It’s the third North-South duty for Snider. He’s always been impressed with how players who don’t know each other eventually unit as a team.

“It’s neat how they all come from different backgrounds and places,” he said. “At first it’s a lot of individuals, but by the end of it everybody comes together and you get that team feeling going on as they bond. It’s pretty cool to watch.”

The North defeated the South last year, 31-28.

• Four men have been inducted into the MVFCA assistant coaches Hall of Fame: recently deceased David “Doc” Amlin, Jim Dimitroff, Bob Zolman and Mike Anderson.

• The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association North-South All-Star Games were held at Massillon in April. Those games previously were at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium.

FACEBOOK: For more high school sports you should like Marc Pendleton


MVFCA NORTH-SOUTH

ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Centerville High School

North head coach: Tyler Cates (Covington)

South head coach: Butch Snider (Oakwood)

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