As their senior seasons unfold, many high school football players learn to savor each game as if it might be their last. That’s especially true this week.

St. Aloysius wide receiver Ryan Theriot and lineman Tyler Breithaupt will be among about 150 players who will participate in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools football all-star games Friday at Jackson Prep.

The games are a showcase for some of the state’s best players, but for many it will also be the last time they put on a football uniform — a fact that’s not lost on them.

“I’ve had a couple of Division III schools. I’m talking to Millsaps right now. Nothing is really opening up yet. I have one for Meridian for soccer,” Theriot said of his prospects of landing a college football scholarship. “I’m going to miss it, definitely. It’s what happens, I guess. You don’t get another chance to play football. I’ve been playing it for 10 years. It’s been a big part of my life for that long. For that to possibly come to an end, it’ll suck, honestly. But I’ll get used to it and move on.”

The MAIS will play two all-star games on Friday. The 8-Man/Class A/Class AA game will start at 3 p.m. Tallulah Academy quarterback Joshua Collins, defensive lineman Parker Morgan and head coach Annon Etheridge are among those participating. Greenville-St. Joseph head coach John Baker, who led the Irish to the Class AA championship for the second year in a row, will also be an assistant for the Blue team.

Theriot and Breithaupt will both play for the White team in the Class AAA/AAAA game that begins at 6 p.m. Vicksburg native John Weaver, who is an assistant coach at Madison-Ridgeland Academy, will be an assistant on the Blue coaching staff.

While there might be some melancholy among the players wrapping up their high school football careers, the all-star games are also a celebration of them.

Theriot and Breithaupt led St. Al to a 6-4 record — its first winning season since 2014 — and a berth in the Class AAA playoffs. Theriot caught 34 passes for 536 yards and five touchdowns this season and became St. Al’s career leader in receptions (82) and receiving yards (1,391), and finished one touchdown short of tying Brandon Teller’s school record of 17 touchdown receptions.

Breithaupt played on both sides of the line. As an offensive tackle, he helped protect both a 1,000-yard passer and a 1,000-yard rusher. On the defensive line, he finished with 59 tackles and two sacks.
Both St. Al players agreed that winning was better than any stats they put up.

“I think I had a better year this year than I did last year, tackles-wise. It was better than being at home watching every other team in Vicksburg go to the playoffs and we’re sitting at home watching them,” Breithaupt said.

Being recognized as among the best players in the MAIS was also humbling, Theriot added.

“I thought it was really cool,” Theriot said. “Playing with some of the best athletes that we’ve played against during our season, it’s pretty humbling to be seen as one of those guys.”

MAIS FOOTBALL ALL-STAR GAMES
Friday, at Jackson Prep
3 p.m. – 8-Man/Class A/Class AA game
• Area players and coaches: Parker Morgan (DE, Tallulah Academy), Joshua Collins (QB, Tallulah), Annon Etheridge (coach, Tallulah), John Baker (coach, Greenville-St. Joe and Vicksburg native)
6 p.m. – Class AAA/Class AAAA game
• Area players and coaches: Tyler Breithaupt (OL/DL, St. Aloysius), Ryan Theriot (WR, St. Al), Jance Riley (Central Hinds), Prentice Brown (Central Hinds), John Weaver (coach, Madison-Ridgeland Academy and Vicksburg native)