Area players, coaches will participate in Max Emfinger All-American Bowl Game Classic

Six Tri-City area senior football players and two coaches have been chosen to represent the area Saturday in Hammond at the Max Emfinger All-American Bowl Game Classic.
Berwick High School’s Austin Vercher, Trenton Hebert, D.J. Robicheaux and Alvin Robinson, along with Central Catholic’s Bailey Badeaux and Patterson High’s Aairon Hartman have been chosen to participate in the contest, which will pit a West All-Star team against an East group at Southeastern Louisiana University’s Strawberry Stadium.
Berwick High School Coach Eric Holden will lead the West All-Star team as head coach, while ex-Patterson High assistant football coach Brandon Harden will serve as quality control coach on the West squad.
The West squad will feature a majority Louisiana roster and also includes players from Texas and Nevada.
The East squad features players from such states as Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Illinois and Tennessee.
The East squad is led by Greg Cowart of Pensacola, Florida, who is participating in the bowl game for the 12th year.
“This game is a great opportunity for kids to come out and have one last chance their (senior) season in order to showcase their talents in order to acquire that scholarship to continue their academic career as well as their athletic career," Holden said.
This is Holden’s ninth year participating in the game and Harden’s third.
“I love coaching in this game,” Holden said. “It is always a blast. The kids that come down are always great kids."
Badeaux, a 5-foot, 8-inch, 200-pound running back, was a first-team All-District 7-1A athlete selection this season.
Saturday’s all-star game is the second he participated in this week, following Thursday’s NUC All-American Game in Atlanta, Georgia.
He also will participate in the NUC Texas vs. World Game in DeSoto, Texas, Feb. 9, and as a member of the American Football Worldwide Elite select team that will face Ireland’s national U19 team in Dublin, Ireland, April 8, 2017.
Vercher is a 6-foot, 4-inch, 275-pound offensive guard and defensive tackle. He was a second-team All-District 8-3A selection on the defensive line this season.
Robicheaux, a 5-foot, 10-inch, 190-pound strong safety, was a first-team All-District 8-3A selection at defensive back this season and a Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3A Honorable Mention All-State selection.
Hebert is a 5-foot, 10-inch, 245-pound center and long snapper, while Robinson is a 6-foot, 3-inch, 210-pound defensive end.
Hartman is a 6-foot, 265-pound offensive guard. He was a second-team All-District 8-3A selection on the offensive line this season.