By Angie Ledbetter

South Panola Tiger’s senior Tony Conner was selected to play in the 2013 Under Armour All-American high school football game.

The game will be played January 4 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The sixth annual game will start at 4 p.m. CST and will be televised on ESPN.

Conner, who is one of 90 players selected, was presented his honorary game jersey on Wednesday at the South Panola media center with his team, coaches, family and friends present.

Conner has been a starter on the varsity team since ninth grade and is an all-around athlete who can play anywhere on the field. Since starting his ninth grade year, he has two state championship rings and plans to get his third this year. Last week was the first game Conner has missed in 50 games.  

“This means a lot to me,” said Conner. “I get the opportunity to go to the game and play with a great bunch of guys. Being one of those 90 makes me feel good about it. I was surprised to be selected. All the hard work has paid off for me. The thing I look forward to the most is going out on the field and playing my best. I want to hear my name a lot.”

The American Family Insurance Selection Tour for the 2013 game kicked off September 5 in Loganville, Ga. at Grayson High School. The event was the first stop of a three-month national tour highlighting the country’s top senior high school football players selected to participate.

The national Selection Tour sponsored by American Family Insurance is an expansion of the Under Armour All-America Game. As part of American Family Insurance’s involvement the events will raise awareness around teen driving safety and recognize the student athletes, coaches, families and communities who have helped make these players’ dreams a reality.

“This is a big accomplishment for Conner, the former players, the current players and the program,” said assistant coach Jamie Easley. “Not very many people get selected as 90 players out of the country, which is a small percentage.

“We knew in the eighth and ninth grade he had a lot of potential and he’s reached it plus has got even more potential to go further,” Easley added.

“Conner has worked extremely hard—harder than anyone. He’s the first one when we run, first one in the bleachers and first one in the weight room.”

Easley did not know if Conner has missed a workout.

“I’m sure he has over the summer but it’s not been because he just didn’t want to come to workouts. This is a testament to his hard work and dedication.”