For Warsaw football coach Phil Jensen, this week is the realization of a goal that goes back to his high school playing days at Penn.

For Warsaw graduate Derrick Duncan, it's a chance to see how good he really is.

When the annual North-South All-Star football game, which happens to be the longest running football all-star game in the country, takes place Saturday in Indianapolis, both Jensen and Duncan will be pleased as punch to be there.

"When I was a player at Penn, it was every player's personal goal," Jensen said. "Although I didn't make it as a player, it's a real honor 15 years later."

Jensen, who guided Warsaw to a 6-4 mark this past season, will coach the linebackers. It will give Jensen a chance to instruct on the defensive side of the football for the first time in seven years. Duncan will be part of that group as he was selected to play defense, rather than running back.

"It's odd that I was picked for my defense, because most people remember me for my offense," Duncan said. "But that's what I'm being recruited for anyway."

Duncan will probably play linebacker in college, wherever that may be, although he'd like to get the chance to play some on offense too. Right now, Duncan is looking at either Anderson or St. Francis. Both schools will have coaches at the game.

But this is more than just a chance to impress coaches for him. This is an honor for Duncan, just as it is for Jensen.

"It's a great opportunity," Duncan said. "When you think of all the kids who play football in the state, it's great to be on that team."

The North and South teams began practices Monday morning. Jensen says that the teams will take part in two or three practices a day to prepare for Saturday. But the teams will also do some more important things.

"One of the neat things is that we'll take all the football players to Camp Riley and spend some time there with the kids," Jensen said. "Derrick will take a Warsaw football shirt, just like all the other football players will, to give to one kid at Riley."

In fact, all of the proceeds from this game will be split among the Indiana Football Hall Of Fame and Camp Riley.

Jensen, of course, looks at the big picture and how this can affect Warsaw Community High School football. The opportunity for Jensen to spend a week with some of the best coaches in the state is a positive. But this also trickles down to those younger students.

"We've worked hard to make football important at Warsaw," Jensen said. "This can plant the seed in younger kids. A lot of the guys playing in this game will be playing on Saturdays and some will even be playing on Sundays in the future. Seeing Derrick with those guys shows that football players from around here can be something."

Another positive from Jensen's perspective is the community support that has been received. Biomet has signed on as the title sponsor of the game, which only means more notice of the program.

"Across the state of Indiana, Warsaw isn't known for football," Jensen said. "This is one of those pieces of that puzzle."

The North/South All-Star game will take place Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at North Central High School. [[In-content Ad]]