HASTINGS, NE — Nebraska’s top eight-man high school football players are preparing to hit the field for one final time in their prep careers.

Saturday’s Sertoma 8-Man All-Star Classic in Hastings gives the athletes a chance to play for themselves, their community, and their form of the game.

“I love representing eight-man," Cooper Slingsby of Ansley-Litchfield said. "Not a lot of people out in the big cities know what it is, so I’m glad we get to represent it.”

Brevin Damrow of Tri County is playing for the East team and says the competition level is high.

“It’s crazy because obviously everyone here is just the best of the best. It’s real fun to see how athletic and talented everyone here is,” Damrow said.

It gives a chance for the head coaches, like Mike Speirs of Howells-Dodge, to coach up the highly-skilled guys he’s used to going against.

“It’s always fun when you get here and see the talent and you get to kind of know those kids in a setting different than preparing to play them in a game,” Speirs said.

To best showcase the talent, Sandhills/Thedford coach Josh Deines says he’s keeping it run-first and simple for his West squad.

“There’s a lot of good kids on both side and I think the biggest key is to keep it as simple as you can so you can allow our side and their side to play fast and let athletes be athletes,” Deines said.

Speirs agrees but says the East might still have some plays up their sleeve.

“You throw some wrinkles in that you probably wouldn’t try at home, a little more high-risk plays and stuff like that," Speirs said. "So we throw some of that stuff in to have some fun.”

Eli Jensen of Kenesaw says he’s been impressed with his West team teammates.

“I see a lot of good teamwork. We mesh real well together," Jensen said. "The defense looks amazing. Offense, I think will just run the hell out of the ball and I think we’ll be good.”

Damrow says the East team isn’t intimidated.

“We’re a salty group," Damrow said. "We’re not as big-looking as some of the kids on the West but I don’t think that’ll be a problem.”

The teams clash at 6:00 on Saturday at Adams Central. You can listen live on 98.9 The Vibe.