Although it's only the beginning of April, football talk is in the air, and not just because of the upcoming NFL draft.

Rosters for the 13th annual Foothills Football Classic were announced last week at a press conference at Stratigos Banquet Center in North Huntingdon.

For 75 graduating senior gridiron stars from around the region, the Classic offers one final high school game that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

The annual All-Star event will be held on June 21, at Norwin High School Stadium, at 7 p.m.

The Foothills Classic brings together players from 33 school districts located in Allegheny, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.

Players are graduating seniors nominated to the roster by their high school coaches as exemplary student-athletes.

The final teams are then selected by a coaching panel and split into squads -- North and South -- based on their location surrounding Route 30.

The Township Association of Business is the primary sponsor for the event.

Seven local players will take part in the All-Star affair -- four from Franklin Regional and three from Penn-Trafford, as well as the Franklin Regional coaching staff, which will guide the North team.

Three Norwin players were selected to the South team, but they will be unable to compete in the game.

Franklin Regional and Penn-Trafford players will suit up for the North squad. The South team will be coached by Laurel Highlands' Jack Buehner.

"It's about celebrating and congratulating the athletes. It's a great tribute to them and their parents. It's exciting to coach these players who, many of which, will play at the next level," Botta said.

"I'm real excited about this team."

Franklin Regional's veteran field boss will be joined on the sidelines by his assistants Anthony Botti, Ryan Osorio and Rich Johns, as well as former defensive coordinator and new Burrell head coach Tom Henderson.

Botta has coached the Foothills Classic previously, including in 2000 when he coached his son in the game. He's also coached in the East versus West All-Star game in Altoona.

He'll inherit a team that features four of his own athletes and many other standouts from around the region.

Franklin Regional

The Panthers standouts taking part in the Foothills contest will be Mike Bevilacqua, Joey Rockovich, Jimmy Hart and Seve Franceschelli.

"I'm honored to be selected. There's so many good players. It's going to be a lot of fun to get back on the field again," Rockovich said.

The senior wide receiver was one of the most versatile players in the WPIAL last fall as he was selected first-team All-Conference as a wide receiver, defensive back and also as an all-purpose player.

He rushed for 114 yards, caught 29 passes for 678 yards and three for 99 yards en route to scoring five touchdowns and being named to the East Elite.

Rockovich will play at Lock Haven with teammates Billy Limpert, a defensive lineman, and Hart, who will play wide receiver.

An East Elite honorable mention, Hart scored two touchdowns this season after catching 21 passes for 378 yards. He also had 108 return yards. On defense, Hart made 68 tackles, including 38 solo. He added three sacks and three passes defended.

"It's an honor to play in the game," Hart said. "It will be fun to play for coach Botta again. He's definitely the best coach I've ever had."

Bevilacqua also is planning a college football career. He'll compete at Robert Morris University next fall with his twin brother, Brian, who was selected to play in the East/West All-Star game.

"It's an honor to play," Mike Bevilacqua said. "I'm already working on their training program to get ready."

The standout defensive lineman was an East Elite honorable mention while compiling 24 solo tackles and averaging 4.6 tackles per game. He was picked second team All-Conference.

Franceschelli is between playing in the fall for Johns Hopkins or the University of Chicago. He'll suit up at defensive back for the North squad. Last season, he led the Panthers with eight touchdowns and was selected second team All-Conference as a defensive back and running back.

"It feels great to be selected. It should be a lot of fun," he said. "There's going to be a lot of competition, but I'm up for the challenge."

The East Elite honorable mention rushed for 673 yards, made 34 tackles and had five passes defended last year.

Penn-Trafford

Three Warriors will compete in the annual Foothills contest -- Brian Mack, Nick DeNillo and Justin Edwards.

"It feels great to be recognized for all the hard work I've put in over the last four years," said Mack, who will continue his career in the University of Dayton backfield.

Mack was selected first team All-Quad South as a running back after rushing for 568 yards and seven touchdowns. He also made 31 tackles for P-T and was an East Elite honoree.

DeNillo will attend Washington & Jefferson College this fall but isn't sure about his football future. He was an East Elite selection in addition to leading the Warriors in tackles with 61. He also had six sacks and was picked second team All-Quad South as a linebacker.

"This is a great honor. It shows that all the hard work that I put in last summer paid off," said DeNillo, who battled shoulder and knee injuries this season. "It will be great to play another game."

Edwards is headed to the University of Pittsburgh where he will try to make the Panthers' squad as a walk-on.

The versatile defensive back and wide receiver is a two-time East Elite selection.

He was a first-team All-Conference pick at defensive back, in addition to rushing for 104 yards and catching 19 passes for 208 yards. He also made 34 tackles and had two picks on defense.

"It feels great to be selected. Not that many players get this chance," Edwards said. "It's going to be great to play one last high school game."

Norwin

Three Norwin players -- Mike Salopek, Brad Rodgers and Steve Removcik -- were selected to play for the North squad, but none of them will be able to participate in the game.

Salopek suffered a knee injury during wrestling season and is still recovering. The WPIAL champion grappler will wrestle next year at the University of Virginia.

The East Elite selection switched from wide receiver to tailback early last season and rushed for 710 yards and four scores. He also caught three TDs and was selected first team All-Quad South as a linebacker after making a team-high 77 tackles.

Rodgers, also an East Elite honoree, is headed to Robert Morris University next fall to play on the offensive line for the Colonials. He was selected first team All-Conference as an offensive guard and helped Norwin running backs to gain 2,300 yards this season.

Removcik, who was a key factor in the boys basketball team's run to the WPIAL postseason, made 39 tackles, including 28 solo, last fall. He was a first team All-Conference defensive back and East Elite honorable mention. He also defended four passes, had an interception and two forced fumbles.

Rodgers and Removcik each had prior commitments and are unable to play in the All-Star game.

Each participating player in the contest is eligible for a variety of scholarship opportunities, including a Sheetz scholarship ($1,000) and the Fred Ruffolo scholarship ($500), given in memory of Ruffolo, a previous Foothills board member.

"Through the generosity of Sheetz, and Lou Sheetz's involvement, we are looking forward to an even bigger Foothills Classic in 2008, allowing more scholarship money to be awarded to the players," said Rich Siniawski, chairman of the classic.

The awards are given based on grade point average, course of study, academic/athletic awards, school activities, community involvement, interests and hobbies, work experience, career objective and a 100-word essay on "What being part of the Foothills Football Classic means to me."

Schools represented at the game will be Belle Vernon, Burrell, Clairton, Connellsville, Derry Area, East Allegheny, Duquesne, Elizabeth Forward, Franklin Regional Gateway, Greensburg Central Catholic, Greens-burg Salem, Hempfield, Indiana, Jeannette, Kiski Area, Latrobe, McKeesport, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn Hills, Penn-Trafford, Plum, Serra Catholic, Southmoreland, South Allegheny, Steel Valley, Thomas Jefferson, Valley, West Mifflin, Woodland Hills and Yough.

For more information on the game and advertising for the contest, visit www.foothillsfootballclassic.com.