As offensive linemen on the Richmond Senior football team, Alex Coulthard and Kevin Alfonso were mostly overshadowed by their well-accomplished offensive teammates.

Now, Coulthard and Alfonso are all alone in the spotlight, both having a chance to shine in today’s 73rd Annual Verizon Wireless Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas at Wofford’s Gibb Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C.

Coulthard and Alfonso are two of the 44 North Carolina players who will play for the Tar-Heels against South Carolina’s all-star team called the Sandlappers.

“It’s an honor to be here, and to be around all this talent,” Coulthard said. “I feel, I’m around people that I didn’t think, I was big enough to be around.”

Raiders coach Paul Hoggard, who also coaches the offensive linemen, was pleased to have a couple of his so called “hogs,” given an opportunity to participate in the all-star showcase game.

“It feels good that both of them were chosen to play, and I know they will represent the school (Richmond Senior) well,” Hoggard said. “They’re two outstanding young men, who are very deserving of playing in this game.”

Both Coulthard and Alfonso are scheduled to start on the line. Coulthard will be at left tackle and Alfonso at left guard. Coulthard credited Hoggard for the tutelage he and Alfonso received at their perspective positions.

“With us having two linemen here at the Shrine Bowl, that really says a lot about the way coach Hoggard has taught us,” Coulthard said. “There’s no better O-line coach out there than coach Hoggard.”

Hoggard said the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Coulthard has a chance to be a great player in college.

Hoggard explained Coulthard is a big kid who has quick feet and does a good job of moving his hips in position to block his opponent.

Coulthard said he has received an offer from Elon University, but he wants to use the Shrine Bowl to make himself more appealing to the various Division I college scouts likely to be in attendance.

“I’m hoping to go out there, show out and hopefully get an offer,” Coulthard said.

“I know, I’m going to get a lot of playing time. Hopefully, I will play well and see what happens from there.”

While Coulthard was selected for the Shrine Bowl team, Alfonso was chosen as a alternate, moving onto the team after one of the selected North Carolina linemen suffered an injury.

Alfonso arrived in Spartanburg Monday morning and started practice the following day.

“I feel bad for the guy who got hurt, but I know this is a good opportunity for myself to go against the best in the state of South Carolina,” Alfonso said.

Coulthard is elated to be playing alongside his Richmond teammate.

“I was real excited when I heard he was going to be on the team,” Coulthard said. “With us being familiar with each other, it’s going to be good to be working on the same side. It’s no doubt that I feel comfortable next to him.”

Just like Coulthard, Alfonso hopes to draw interest from various Division I Football Bowl Subdivision schools by impressing the college scouts in the prestigious game.

Alfonso said he has an official invite from Division-II Fayetteville State.

Hoggard described Alfonso as an aggressive player who gets after it and plays the game the way it supposed to be played.

Alfonso, who is listed at 6-foot, 260 pounds, admitted he understands his size doesn’t make him the typical prototype guard that D-I colleges salivate over.

Alfonso is hoping this game will change their mind.

“I’m just motivated to prove that I belong, and to show the scouts that I can play some ball,” Alfonso said.

Coulthard admitted the rigorous two-a-day practices reminded him of Richmond’s preseason practices back in August.

Coulthard and Alfonso both said getting to meet new teammates has been an exciting part of the week.

Coulthard added that his biggest highlight was going to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

“Going to the kids hospital was a lot of fun because I met some great kids,” Coulthard said.

“It was humbling to see those kids look up to us, and ask for our autographs.”

During their prep career, both Coulthard and Alfonso were two-year starters for the Raiders, including being on the 2008 state 4AA championship team.

This past season, Richmond lost in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs to Charlotte Independence.

The Tar Heels have a two-game losing streak going into today’s game against the Sandlappers. South Carolina rallied from a 16-3 halftime deficit to win 24-16 last season.

“Last year, they almost had them, but they let it slip away in the second half,” Coulthard said.

“Hopefully, we can do enough to get a win. I know myself and Kevin don’t want our high school careers to end with another loss.”



Contact sports reporter Corey Davis at 997-3111, ext. 44; e-mail cdavis@yourdailyjournal.com