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Independence, MO —
Dillon Taff will play his final football game with two of his best friends and Fort Osage teammates when he anchors the Missouri offensive line at Thursday’s Country Mart Kansas vs. Missouri High School All-Star Football Game at Blue Valley High School.
Taff will attend Metropolitan Community College-Blue River this fall and say goodbye to the pads, two-a-day practice sessions and the special bond he formed with his teammates.
“I’m using A+ and going to Blue River to get going on my education,” said Taff, who will play center for the Missouri All-Stars. “It was a tough decision. I love playing football, especially with all the great teammates I had at Fort Osage. But all good things must come to an end, and I know I made the right decision.”
Taff will be joined by fellow offensive lineman Rueben Sia and Examiner Defensive Player of the Year Tony Tanumai in the all-star classic.
“When I found out that I was one of the top 10 linemen selected for the all-star game I couldn’t believe it,” Taff said. “When I got the call from the assistant coach who is working with the linemen telling me I made the team, I was as happy as I’ve ever been.”
While Taff is through with football after Thursday, Sia and Tanumai see the all-star game as a possible highlight on future résumé as each of them will play football at Highland (Kan.) Community College.
“I want to do well, to attract some attention,” Sia said, “because I see the next two years as an audition. I want to get noticed so I can play D-I football.”
Ditto for Tanumai.
“This game is going to be played at a new level,” Tanumai said. “You want to play well when you’re playing with the best players in the state. And you want to win your last high school football game. And we really want to beat Kansas – that would be sweet.”
All three Fort Osage players said it was special to be on the team with members of the Class 5 state championship Staley squad that beat the Indians 7-6 in the state quarterfinals.
“They’re all good guys,” Tanumai said of the Falcons. “That’s been the coolest part about this game. You get to play with the guys you played against all those years. It’s 100 percent fun, it’s great to be back in the pads and we’re really coming together as a team.”
A win in his last prep game would really be special for Taff.
“The last loss to Staley, even though it was a great game and we played our hearts out, still hurts,” Taff said. “To win an all-star game with Rueben and Tony and all the great Missouri players would be the most special way to end my high school career.”
The game starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students with an ID. Kansas holds an 11-8 overall lead in the series that dates back to 1991. Missouri won last year’s game 21-13.
Dillon Taff will play his final football game with two of his best friends and Fort Osage teammates when he anchors the Missouri offensive line at Thursday’s Country Mart Kansas vs. Missouri High School All-Star Football Game at Blue Valley High School.
Taff will attend Metropolitan Community College-Blue River this fall and say goodbye to the pads, two-a-day practice sessions and the special bond he formed with his teammates.
“I’m using A+ and going to Blue River to get going on my education,” said Taff, who will play center for the Missouri All-Stars. “It was a tough decision. I love playing football, especially with all the great teammates I had at Fort Osage. But all good things must come to an end, and I know I made the right decision.”
Taff will be joined by fellow offensive lineman Rueben Sia and Examiner Defensive Player of the Year Tony Tanumai in the all-star classic.
“When I found out that I was one of the top 10 linemen selected for the all-star game I couldn’t believe it,” Taff said. “When I got the call from the assistant coach who is working with the linemen telling me I made the team, I was as happy as I’ve ever been.”
While Taff is through with football after Thursday, Sia and Tanumai see the all-star game as a possible highlight on future résumé as each of them will play football at Highland (Kan.) Community College.
“I want to do well, to attract some attention,” Sia said, “because I see the next two years as an audition. I want to get noticed so I can play D-I football.”
Ditto for Tanumai.
“This game is going to be played at a new level,” Tanumai said. “You want to play well when you’re playing with the best players in the state. And you want to win your last high school football game. And we really want to beat Kansas – that would be sweet.”
All three Fort Osage players said it was special to be on the team with members of the Class 5 state championship Staley squad that beat the Indians 7-6 in the state quarterfinals.
“They’re all good guys,” Tanumai said of the Falcons. “That’s been the coolest part about this game. You get to play with the guys you played against all those years. It’s 100 percent fun, it’s great to be back in the pads and we’re really coming together as a team.”
A win in his last prep game would really be special for Taff.
“The last loss to Staley, even though it was a great game and we played our hearts out, still hurts,” Taff said. “To win an all-star game with Rueben and Tony and all the great Missouri players would be the most special way to end my high school career.”
The game starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students with an ID. Kansas holds an 11-8 overall lead in the series that dates back to 1991. Missouri won last year’s game 21-13.
