INSTITUTE, W.Va. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” Ronnie Staley was somewhat like the person who discovers heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s been singing the wrong words to a song the last 10 years.
The Wayne High School football standout will play for the South Cardinals against the North Bears at noon on Saturday in the West Virginia High School Football Coaches Association All-Star Game at South Charleston High School.
Staley, a 1,000-yard rusher as a senior for the Pioneers, will play slot receiver for the South. He joked he wasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t even sure what that position was in the pass-oriented offense thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s in stark contrast to WayneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s ground-and-pound attack.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œFootballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s football,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Staley said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI have the knowledge. The play-calling, the way the coaches here do it, itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a lot different from how we do it out Wayne with coach (Tom) Harmon. WeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re Wing-T, and weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re running the spread here. ItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a big difference.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not the only difference Staley said he sees in practices at West Virginia State University.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a big talent level difference here,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Staley said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œOut Wayne, weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re a smaller school. We donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t have a lot of kids. There are a lot of athletes out here. TheyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re all all-stars. ThereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a difference.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Staley is one of those stars. He said heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s glad to be among the top players in the Mountain State.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s an honor,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Staley said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m very blessed. At the start of the season, I wanted to play in it. When I got the call, I just took it. ItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s great. IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m honored.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
While several players from the game will play in college, most wonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t. Staley is one of the latter. He said he has a job lined up.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThis is it for me,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Staley said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThis is my last game. ThereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a good side and a bad side to it. ItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s sad. It hits hard, but it is what it is. IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll miss it. IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m going to work. IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m going to travel.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
South coach Jason Nichols of Clay County said the contest is special for all the players, especially for those who wonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t again don a helmet and pads.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œSome of these players, itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s their last game,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Nichols said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe want them to enjoy it. We want them to have fun and remember it.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Staley said he hopes to leave the field the same way he wanted to finish every game at Wayne.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe want to win,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Staley said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe want to come out on top. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œ
