CBA quarterback Cam MacPherson gets ready to hand the ball off at the Upstate all-star team practice.
It's that time of the year, time when the best high school football players from upstate New York prepare to take on their counterparts from downstate.
The Empower Federal Credit Union Upstate vs. Downstate Football Classic is June 10th in the Carrier Dome. On Sunday, the Upstate all-stars were practicing at Tom Coughlin Stadium in Waterloo hoping to break a trend.
This is the third Upstate vs. Downstate Classic, and in the first two years of this stellar event, the Downstate team has won. The Upstate squad hopes that can all change in 2012.
"It's definitely motivation. We definitely want to represent upstate New York football and I think it's definitely a good test for us" says Christian Brothers Academy quarterback Cameron MacPherson.
The Upstate team is comprised of players from Buffalo to Albany and everywhere in between. We talked to players from Sections III, IV, and V and the message was all the same, the time is now for the Upstate team to win.
More importantly though, the players we spoke with aren't just excited to be in an all-star game that covers the entire Empire State, they're quite honored to be a part of such a historic event.
"Not many people can say they are a part of this game, and I'm one of those kids who can say I got to play in the Upstate vs. Downstate game, it's really exciting" said Rayshawn Clark, a senior at Indian River.
Not only is the game itself on June 10th, but there's also a combine for underclassmen that morning at East Syracuse-Minoa High School. That is also sponsored by Empower Federal Credit Union.
