Football game profiles seniors

Spencer Patterson

Friday, May 29, 1998 | 11:04 a.m.

For the last four years, Valley's Dion Jackson and Green Valley's Jamar Glasper have developed one of the most intense rivalries in town.

On the football field and on the basketball court, the two Las Vegas-area prep stars always seem to save their best for games against one another.

But Saturday night, Jackson and Glasper will find themselves in the unusual position of playing on the same side of the football at the 27th annual Lions All-Star Football game -- a contest showcasing the top outgoing seniors in Southern Nevada.

After nearly a week of practice for Valley coach Greg Murphy's Sunrise Division squad, the two seniors say they'll welcome the chance to play for a common goal.

"I've known him for a long time off the field," said Jackson, one of UNLV's early football signees. "So we're looking forward to playing with each other."

"It feels good to be on his team," agreed Glasper, who will play for Utah State this fall. "He's outgoing, he can be funny and he can be serious when he needs to be."

Jackson is expected to start at quarterback for the Sunrise team, while Glasper will likely split time between free safety and linebacker.

The Sunrise squad also includes Valley offensive lineman Shane Lockhart, who will join Jackson as a Rebel freshman in the fall.

The Sunset stars, which will be coached by Cimarron-Memorial's Greg Spencer, also feature some formidable names, including Clark linebacker Jamaal Cherry (California) and Cimarron quarterback Toby Smeltzer (UNLV).

The teams have been practicing once a day since last Friday, trying to get their players on the same page.

"They're not putting in anything hard, and we're picking it up fast," Jackson said.

And even though most of the seniors haven't stepped on a football field since last fall, Glasper said they've managed to stay in good enough shape.

"Most of the people out there have been running track, playing baseball or doing something, so they're in shape," he said.

Which, for Glasper, is a good thing. The Green Valley senior isn't planning to end his high school career on a losing note.

"It's like the last hurrah of high school football," Glasper said. "Of course we want to go out with a bang and win."