They’ve been on opposing squads and opposite sidelines for most of their careers.

Those rivalries will be set aside on Sunday as the Second Annual Schuylkill League-Colonial League All-Star Football Game, which will take place at Palmerton at 3 p.m.

The game will bring together the top seniors in the two leagues and will feature 25 players from the Times News coverage area, with 13 on the Schuylkill roster and 12 on the Colonial squad.

“It’s a chance to possibly coach these kids for the last time they’re playing the high school sport of football, which they’ve probably played since they were maybe in knee-hi, and for some it may be the last time they ever get the chance to play the game again,” said Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner, who will lead the Schuylkill League squad. “It’s always great to be part of that for those guys, and it’s just a fun time. It’s always great to see how kids interact with each other from the other schools, especially in this one since it’s not just the Schuylkill League teams, it’s also the Colonial League schools. So getting all those kids together, some kids who have probably been playing against each other since they were eight years old, and just seeing how they get along with each other. Once you put all those rivalries aside in the Schuylkill League and become one team, it’s really neat to see.”

Bonner also served as the head coach for the North squad in the annual Schuylkill Football Coaches Association All-Star game in November.

Sunday’s contest will be put on by the SCFCA, which is led by Schuylkill Haven’s Mike Farr, and the Colonial League Football Coaches Association, which is led by Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak.

“Mike had asked me what our interest was (in a game), and we had agreed with the (Schuylkill-Colonial football) merger that at that time period it was a good middle ground to get the two leagues together again in an all-star competition, because I think it was always talked about prior, what an all-star game would look like between the two leagues,” said Walkowiak. “They’re both quality leagues, with good football, so it just seemed like a natural fit once the merger took place with the leagues.”

The on-field debut of the Schuylkill League-Colonial League football merger came in the 2021 season and was followed by the inaugural all-star, which was held at Schuylkill Haven and won by the Schuylkill League squad 28-6.

Bonner’s Schuylkill League squad will feature Lehighton’s Ethan Buchert, Ian Rarick and AJ Light; Panther Valley’s Austin Hadley, David “Trey” McAndrew and Riley Hoben and Tamaqua’s John Klein, Isaac Curvey, Vincent Schlosser and Ryan Snyder; and Jim Thorpe’s David Fiorito, Dom Berger and Nate Lopez.

In addition to Tamaqua coaches Jarrett Reigel, Mike Coleman, Mike Bonner, Duane Barron, Shane Kaufman, Ed Titus, and Tyler Skripko, Bonner will also be assisted by Panther Valley head coach Mark Lavine.

“He’s been a big help. He’s a good guys. I’ve known Mark for a long time,” said Bonner. “He was on my staff for a few years there with Tamaqua, so it’s great to have him around again at least for a practices. And throughout the league, we have a lot of hard-working coaches.”

The Colonial League team will feature Northern Lehigh’s Seth Adams, Ben Reitz, Nick Frame, Austin Smyth, Izaiah Ramos, Jayden Krempasky, AJ Jimenez and Ethan Karpowich; Northwestern’s Josiah Gornicz; and Palmerton’s Daniel Lucykanish, Kendall Robinson and Dalton Drake.

The squad will be coached by Pen Argyl’s Brady Mutton. He will be assisted by Walkowiak, Ryan Pyscher (Bangor), Matt Giovannini (Notre Dame), Eric Sampson (Pen Argyl), Jake Giovannini (Pen Argyl), Charlie Comstock (Pen Argyl) and Mitchell Knapp (Pen Argyl).

Both sides have been impressed by the interest and dedication of players to take part in the game while navigating spring sports, proms and other commitments. Moving the game from Saturday to Sunday also allowed for more players to participate.

Bonner estimates his squad should feature around 30 players for the game, while the Colonial side numbering 38 players.

“Big credit goes to all the coaches in the Colonial League working together and getting the information from multiple sources and sorting through it,” said Walkowiak. “We have deadlines we have to meet, and Coach Farr does a great job with the game sponsorships.”

The sponsors for the game include Brads Landfill, Bethlehem Landfill, St. Luke’s Sports Medicine, DBR Epoxy Floors Sandblasting and Painting and Titan Threadz, who helped cover the game expenses, uniforms, with players also receiving swag bags.

There will be MVP awards for a lineman and skill player for both sides.

The impact of the game will also be felt off the field, like it so often is.

“Palmerton’s Parents Club was gracious enough to give part of the 50/50 drawing, half of the 50/50 drawing, the game programs and then some of the proceeds from the game, we are going to donate to Lauren’s First and Goal non-profit organization, which is for pediatric brain cancer,” said Walkowiak.

It’s another example of the event giving back and uniting communities, something Walkowiak has seen on numerous occasions as he has gone through preparations for the game, from the parents club working the concessions stands to the dedicated game workers making themselves available on Sunday to Dan Rossino helping to assemble a seven-man officiating crew.

That cooperation extends to likes of Farr and Palmerton and athletic director Kyle Porembo, who have helped make sure hosting the event is a memorable experience for both sides.

“It’s been impressive, honestly it’s been impressive,” said Walkowiak. “Because whenever something came up or I needed something, everybody pretty much without a doubt said they were in with what ever we needed.

“Everyone is just trying to make this the best event possible for the kids and everybody who attends it. We’re hoping for a great turnout.”