Rayhill ready for last dance

by Eric Keppeler
Grand Island Dispatch, July 13, 2007

James Rayhill has one more opportunity to play some high school football, and he’s determined to make the most of it.

A three-year starter and a standout at tight end and defensive end, Rayhill was the lone member of the Grand Island football team to be selected to play in the 32nd annual Kensington Lions Club High School Football Classic on July 25 at North Tonawanda’s Lumberjack Sports Complex.

This all-star game gives the best of the recent graduates one last chance to take to the gridiron before heading off to college, and it’s an honor that Rayhill doesn’t take lightly.

“I’m the only guy from my team who was selected, so it’s real special,” Rayhill said. “I feel like I’ve got to step up and represent because not a lot of kids get to do this. It’s a real honor, and it should be fun. It’s nice to have this one last chance to put on the pads here in Western New York.”

Rayhill will depart in mid-August for Hobart College in Geneva, where he will begin his collegiate football career.

Kraig Kurzanski, the head coach of the North All-Stars, will be thrilled to see Rayhill in action one more time before he leaves.

“Jimmy plays hard and he’s a great athlete,” said Kurzanski, also the new head coach at Williamsville South. “He’s going to go to Hobart and play good football for them. He just loves to go out and play football – that’s why I wanted him to be on this team.”

Rayhill was also a three-year starter in goal for the Vikings lacrosse team, and he may play a bit of that sport as well at Hobart, but it’s his skills on the football field that have earned him his status as one of the best players in Western New York.

The Vikings struggled with injuries in 2006, finishing 3-6 overall, but Rayhill never slowed down. A team captain, he finished with a team-high 61 tackles, including a remarkable 24 for a loss, as well as 9.5 sacks to earn all-league honors for the second straight year.

Grand Island head coach Dean Santorio, who will serve as the North All-Stars’ offensive coordinator this year, is glad to see Rayhill get his due.

“He absolutely deserves to be here,” Santorio said. “He’s a really good kid who works hard, and that’s one of the best things you can ever say about someone. We’re excited to have him playing.”

All-star games in any sport – but especially football – can be notorious for their lack of hitting and intensity, but Rayhill says to expect plenty of hitting once the game begins.

“That might be the case in pro sports, but this is high school, so you’re trying to kill the other guy,” Rayhill said. “It’s your last time playing high school football, so you have to make the most of it. We want to win this game, and that’s the way we’re all approaching it.”