Souhegan's J.J. Bright hopes to make an impact for Team West in tonight's annual CHaD Eest-West High School All-Star Game at Saint Anselm's Grappone Stadium. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

MANCHESTER – They’ve had just over a week of preparation and now it’s game time.

Yes, the 12th annual CHaD East-West High School Football All-Star Game is here, set for today at 6 p.m. at Saint Anselm College’s Grappone Stadium.

The West holds an 8-3 advantage with wins in the last three games, including last year’s dramatic 13-10 overtime win in which former Nashua North defensive end Toby Brown, now at Bryant University, was named MVP.

As usual, the game is chock full of locals, mainly on Team West. Area graduated high school seniors on the West team include Bishop Guertin receivers Connor Lennon and Ronan Balistreri, plus QB Mike MacDonough; Nashua North’s back/linebacker Steven Rosario, receiver/safety Jonathan Torres and two-way lineman Melvin Fernandez; Merrimack lineman Zach Rezaoui, receiver/defensive back Logan Day and running back/defensive back Garron Brown; Milford tight end/defensive end Harris Jones plus running back/linebackers Cade Cloutier and Kaleb Francoeur; Souhegan running back/linebacker J.J.Bright plus Saber lineman Sam LeBlanc and receiver/defensive back Cole Manning.

On the East squad are two: Alvirne running back/defensive back Aiden Mills and Campbell lineman Evan St. Pierre.

The West is coached by former Milford coach Keith Jones and the East by Dover head coach Eric Cumba.

The game, of course, benefits the Childrens Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) and there is a special ingredient in this game because Harris Jones was the recipient of a lot of CHaD help when he was a youth following an injury that required several surgeries and was on hand as a 6-year-old for the ceremonial coin toss in the first ever CHaD game back in 2012 at the University of New Hampshire. Also, this will be the last game his father Keith serves as a head coach in possibly a while as he plans on taking some time off to watch Harris and some Spartan alums play in college, while also leaving Milford High School to work at Merrimack High.

FUTURE IS BRIGHT

For some CHaD players, this is their last football game. Others will be going on to college. Meanwhile, there’s another option – former Souhegan back and Telegraph Player of the Year J.J. Bright will play a year at prep school Phillips Exeter Academy.

“For me the most important thing was thinking about preparation,” Bright said. “Prepare me to play at the next level. Also preparing me for that kind of (college) lifestyle since I’ll be boarding there. It’s good to have under my belt when it comes to experience, connections with the coaches, and next level up for football. They (Phillips Exeter) were able to make it affordable so it seemed like a no-brainer.”

How will J.J. Bright make himself different a year or two from now than the player he is now?

“I think just keep working on my craft,” he said. “When it comes to weightlifting, you’ve got to make sure you’re preparing yourself to play with these different types of athletes, and that skillset – just keep eating a lot and staying healthy. Working more and more toward football.”

Bright expects after talking with the Phillips Exeter staff to be playing strong safety on defense and halfback on offense. He’s going in with the mindset he’ll be a running back, “but anything can change, I’ll do whatever they need me to do.”

He may get an early look tonight at his future home as Saint Anselm has been hot on his trail in recruiting. Wesleyan and the University of Rhode Island, Fordham and Columbia are other possibilities. Bright’s dad is a state trooper and he’d like a federal law enforcement career or one as a firefighter.

What does this game mean for him?

“This game is fantastic for me,” Bright said. “It really allows me to play with the people I’ve been surrounded with, some that I’ve liked the last four years and some I haven’t liked (grinning). That’s what’s really cool, we all have the same interest in winning this game and I get to develop some friendships.”

A DEFENSIVE DAY

When you think about Merrimack’s Logan Day, you think about defense – not only in football, but basketball as well.

Day was one of the top defensive players in Division I on the basketball floor this past winter.

“It was pretty cool,” he said. “I’ve played basketball longer than I’ve played football, so it was nice to play one more year, my senior year.”

Meanwhile, this will be Day’s last athletic event as he’s going to begin learning the electrician trade.

“It’s sad, but it was going to come to an end soon,” Day said. “So it’s nice to play one more time with all my friends.”

In an event that is different than any other he’s competed in.

“It’s different than playing in high school, you’re playing with some of the best kids in the state,” Day said.