
GREENSBORO — Even though it came at short notice, Tyson Holloway was proud to represent the Raider diamond on the gridiron one last time.
Last Wednesday, Holloway competed in the North Carolina Coaches Association’s East-West All-Star Game.
Playing at Jamieson Stadium on the campus of Grimsley High School, Holloway and the East team secured a 14-0 victory over the West team.
The two-touchdown victory snapped a two-game losing streak by the East All-Stars, as Holloway was named the starting right tackle.
He was also recognized as the East team’s top academic player, having graduated Richmond Senior High School in June with a 4.47 GPA.
The annual matchup features the best-of-the-best who graduated high school this past school year. Holloway, a multiyear starter and two-time All-Sandhills Athletic Conference selection, continued the rich tradition of Richmond being involved in the game.
One of nearly 100 players to represent the Raiders at the mid-summer showdown, Holloway was Richmond’s only player this year.
In 2022, former offensive lineman Jaiden Covington and head coach Bryan Till participated, while Tremel Jones, Kaleel Brown and assistant head coach Greg Williams took part in the 2021 game.
Roughly a week before this year’s game, Holloway was informed he would be a replacement for the East All-Stars. That gave him two days to prepare before reporting to camp on July 14.
“I was really pumped when I found out I’d been selected,” Holloway said. “Coach Till had mentioned to me near the end of the school year that I may get to play. Even though I was a replacement, it was something I was honored to do to represent my school one last time.”
An opening banquet on July 16 was sandwiched between several days of practice and other activities with the team, coached by East Duplin High School’s Battle Holley.
Holloway and his teammates attended a Carolina Cobras indoor football game, went to a Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball game and cheered on their fellow student-athletes at the boys’ and girls’ East-West basketball games.
“The whole week was definitely a fun experience,” Holloway shared. “I met a lot of new guys and made a lot of new friends.
“As we practiced, we got closer and were able to build a bond and I think that really helped us win the game.”
In the low-scoring affair, the East All-Stars scored a touchdown in the second and fourth quarters.
Quarterback Keno Jones (Northern Nash) threw a score to Shamar Sutton (Northeastern) before halftime and Avery Gaby (East Duplin) ran in an insurance touchdown late in the game.
Tasked with providing protection to Jones and the East’s backfield, Holloway said everything came naturally along the frontline. He even found a teammate in Amari Chance, a fellow offensive lineman and former rival at Scotland High School.
“The game was intense with a lot of talented players,” Holloway recalled. “It wasn’t a challenge playing with a new team because I just did the same things I’ve always been taught like to keep pressure off the quarterback and keep the defender in front of me.
“It was also a great experience to play with a guard from Scotland,” he added of Chance. “He’s a great athlete and it was cool to play alongside a former opponent who was now a teammate.”
In a couple of weeks, Brown will report to Brown University in Providence, R.I., where he plans to play football and major in computer science.
“Playing in the All-Star Game, it helped me get ready for college,” Holloway closed. “It made me understand the importance of meeting new people and teammates, how early practices will go and how I have to give it my all when I play.
“Wearing the R on my helmet one last time was great and I’m glad I got to finish my high school career with a win.”