The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Roberts named All-Star
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: July 17, 2008
Chelsea and Dexter will be well represented at Saturday's 28th annual Michigan High School Football Coaches East-West All-Star Game at Michigan State University's Spartan Stadium.
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The East leads the series 14-13. The West, however, has won three of the last four games.
Representing the Blue and Gold will be defensive tackle Dean Roberts (6-foot-3, 265 pounds), while linebacker Chris Marsh (6-3, 215) will strap on the Dreadnaught winged helmet with pride Saturday. Both players will suit up for the West squad.
Coaching the West team will be Chelsea's Brad Bush. Bulldog assistant coach Grant Fanning will also be on Bush's staff. Last season, Dexter's Tom Barbieri was West head coach and Ken Koenig an assistant.
Player introductions for the game are 1:30 p.m. Kickoff is 2 p.m.
Cost to attend the contest is $10.
Roberts, who'll continue his football career next year at Ferris State University, said playing in Saturday's game was exciting.
"It feels really good to be here," he said. "It's a privilege to be able to play with all these guys. The caliber of player here is unbelievable. It's special. It's an unreal feeling."
Marsh, also an All-State baseball player for Dexter, said he's looking forward to testing himself against the best in the state.
"It feels great," he said. "It'll be a good time. For me, I always played football (as a secondary sport) and to be rewarded with this kind of thing is a great honor.
"I want to measure myself against the other players. There's a lot of great talent here."
Roberts said competing in the East-West All-Star Game was a nice way to conclude his prep football career.
"I never really thought about the game," he said. "My goal was just to get a scholarship. I was able to get that and I got this along with it. It's great."
Marsh said he didn't even know about the game until he was a sophomore.
"Actually, I found out about this game two years ago when (quarterback Jeff) Ziegler was in it," he said. "I always thought it'd be pretty cool to play in it. I came and watched both games (sophomore and junior years). It looks like a lot of fun."
Last year, Dexter quarterback Johnny Benjamin threw the game-winning touchdown pass in the West's 9-7 win.
Ziegler was the Dreadnaughts' first ever player to participate in the All-Star Game. With Benjamin's selection last season and Marsh's this year, Dexter has a mini-All-Star Game streak going.
"I told the juniors they have to continue the tradition and send someone next year," Marsh said. "They need to work as hard as they can."
Roberts, who bench presses 310 pounds, squats 460 pounds and runs a 5.1 40-yard dash, said he has one major goal entering Saturday's game.
"I think I want to prove to myself that I can play at the next level, because I kind of have some doubt," he said. "I want to prove to myself and everyone else that I can play."
Marsh, who said it's still up in the air whether he'll play baseball next year at Eastern Michigan University or at a junior college, gave this advice to Dexter underclassmen that hope to participate in future All-Star Games.
"You need to work hard and do your best," he said. "You never know who's watching. You have to act right and do what you're supposed to do at all times."
Roberts echoed Marsh.
"You need to work hard and don't ever take anything for granted," he said.
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