Recently he best 6th, 7th and 8th grade football players enjoyed taking part the 2025 Mississippi All State game. The 3-day event celebrated the top middle school athletes in the state while opening up elite training and play opportunities.

The All State Game, a partner with High School Football America is a “best in state” event designed for middle school athletes who have demonstrated exceptional talent, hard work, and dedication to the game. Unlike traditional camps, ASG is an exclusive invite-only event where the best players from each state are selected to compete against top talent from across the nation. The experience not only helps young athletes sharpen their skills but also introduces them to a competitive environment that mirrors what they will face at the high school and college levels.

A community effort

“I’m super-excited for the Long Island high school football community, especially because it’s a great opportunity,” said Len Genova, president of the Suffolk County chapter of the National Football Foundation. “My younger son played in the (Boomer) game back in 2015, so I saw up close and personal just how special it was to those young men and their families.”

The road to a comeback wasn’t easy. Rising costs for helmets and insurance made organizing the game nearly impossible — until a group of sponsors stepped in.

Thanks to lead sponsor Orlin and Cohen Orthopedic Group, along with contributions from the New York Jets, New York Giants, and a partnership with Riddell to outfit all 100 players with Axiom helmets, the game is back.

Barclay Insurance Brokers CEO Marc Hudak also helped secure insurance for the event. Hudak has a proven track record organizing large-scale college games, including the Cortaca Jug at MetLife and Yankee Stadiums.

“Ever since it got shut down in 2020 due to COVID, I’ve been asked every year if we’re bringing the game back,” said Peter Blieberg, the game’s executive director and longtime organizer of the Empire Challenge. “The excitement has been there, so everybody is excited about it coming back.”

What to know for Saturday

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., with gates opening at noon. General admission tickets are $20, while children in youth football jerseys can get in for $10. Tickets are available here.

This year’s game will feature several rule adjustments:

• Quarters will be 15 minutes, not the usual 12
• The clock will stop on incomplete passes and plays out of bounds
• The last four minutes of each half will follow standard clock rules
• Defenses must line up in a 4-3-4, with no blitzing or stunts
• Offenses must have at least one running back in the backfield
• Fake punts are not allowed, and teams can only punt twice per half
• Onside kicks are only allowed in the final four minutes

It’s been a long time coming, but Long Island and New York City will finally meet again on the field.

Bragging rights — and some great youthful memories — are on the line.

Top: Scene from the 2011 Empire Challenge game at Shuart Stadium. (Credit: Jeffrey Holmes)

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SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Indians won the first game of the second half of the Northwest League on a walk-off homerun from Jared Thomas. The Indians are 1-0 and tied for first place as the best record in the second half of the season makes the NWL Championship.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) – Here’s a look at our local Iowa high school baseball and softball highlights and scores from June 20th, 2025:

Baseball

Kingsley-Pierson 2, Hinton 1

Remsen St. Mary’s 10, Akron-Westfield 2

Newell-Fonda 15, G-T/R-A 5

Pocahontas Area 12, Sioux Central 1

Don Bosco 1, Gehlen Catholic 0

Softball

MVAOCOU 6, Lawton-Bronson 0

Ames 15, Newell-Fonda 3

Des Moines Roosevelt 11, Newell-Fonda 3

Woodbine 13, Ar-We-Va 0

MVAOCOU 9, Denison-Schleswig 2

West Monona 10, River Valley 1

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valely 9, Sibley-Ocheyedan 1

Akron-Westfield 14, Trinity Christian 3

Storm Lake 12, G-T/R-A 0

Unity Christian 14, Central Lyon 0

Pocahontas Area 8, Sioux Central 7

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