Milford's Darrion Kimball hopes to use his speed in Saturday's CHaD East-West All-Star Football Game at Saint Anselm College. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

AMHERST – Darrion Kimball provided a great ingredient this past fall to the Milford High School football team:

Speed. Speed for a team that was basically operating with a ground-and-pound game plan.

And he hopes to provide the same ingredients for what will likely be a more speed oriented offense for Team West in Saturday’s annual CHaD East-West High School All Star Game at Saint Anselm College.

“I’m just truly blessed to be here, honestly,” he said. “I was kind of surprised myself I was invited to such a big game as this. … I was really stoked.”

Kimball said his participation in the game has helped raise his awareness of the work CHaD does.

“I’d get the flyers in the mail about the hospital,” he said. “It’s a very sad thing that people have to go through (illness) in life. It’s a wakeup call that I’m playing for more than just myself in this game. It’s for the kids and everything.”

Kimball, a slot receiver and return man, is headed to the two-year Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y.to continue his football career.

“I was really excited the night the coach texted me and offered me,” Kimball said, saying he’d study business and marketing. “It’s a great opportunity.”

He was the change-up speed back for Milford, and again, that speed helps.

“I think it’s something you can develop but some people are just gifted with it,” Kimball said. “I was just one of those people.”

He’s been playing since the second grade, and was thankful for the opportunity to play his senior year under the COVID cloud.

“It was definitely a blessing,” Kimball said. “Without my senior season, I don’t think I’d be in the spot I’m in right now, in such a big game, and to play in college and everything.”

What’s it take to make a good return man?

“Ball IQ and speed,” he said. “Everything’s like that. It just comes at you, you have to see the holes developing quickly.”

Slot receivers are a breed apart – because they know they’ll be hit.

“You have to just be able to hold on to the ball and take a hit,” he said. “It’s a big adjustment going from a running team (like Milford) to a passing team (like Team West). I have to just get used to catching it and secure the ball.”

Kimball knows at Hudson Valley he’ll be going from Milford’s huddle offense to HV’s no-huddle, complete with hand signals, etc. Thus Saturday he’s unlike many players who say the CHaD Game is their last.

“Definitely a good feeling,” Kimball said. “A great feeling.”

LOCALS NAMED CAPTAINS

Alvirne’s Kyle Gora, who could start on Saturday, was named a captain for Team East. Meanwhile, locals Jason Compoh (Nashua South), Max Ackerman (Nashua North) and Riley Lawhorn (Souhegan) were named Team West Captains. Goffstown QB Jarrett Henault is the othe r captain.

Meanwhile, Team East named late Londonderry standout Jake Naar, who passed away in March in an auto accident as a captain as well. The teams will have a patch in his memory on their uniforms and there will be a ceremony at the start of the game to honor him.

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