COLUMBUS — There’s a reason Chase Farris has been sporting an ear-to-ear smile all week — and it has nothing to do with getting two days of school off this week because of a brutal ice storm.

Not only did the standout defensive end from Elyria sign a national letter of intent on Wednesday to play football at Ohio State, but he also spent Thursday being introduced at a luncheon in Columbus as a member of the North Team that will play in the Ohio North-South all-star game in April.

Farris is set to enroll for summer quarter classes in June. But first he will get to play one last high school football game against Ohio’s best seniors on April 22 in Ohio Stadium.

Which is where Farris will play his home games the next four years.

"To be chosen for this game is an amazing feeling," Farris said on Thursday at the Columbus Hilton at Easton Place prior to the luncheon. "It’s a true honor."

The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder got the true all-star treatment at the luncheon. Almost as soon as he entered the lobby, he was swarmed by a large group of media members who cover Ohio State, wanting to talk to him and other members of the Buckeyes’ recruiting class, each of whom signed their letters of intent on Wednesday.

"When I got the phone call (telling him he was selected to play in the game), I had my dad stop the car and everything," Farris said. "I was down visiting with him in North Carolina and he was in the car with me. I told him, ‘I just got picked for the North-South game and I think I really want to play in it.’"

Farris’ North Team is being coached by Howland coach Dick Angle. Other Ohio State signees on the North are DerJuan Gambrell (Toledo Rogers), Doran Grant (St. Vincent-St. Mary), Steve Miller (Canton McKinley) and Devin Smith (Massillon).
To think this is going to be a run-of-the-mill, laid back game might be a misnomer.

"Of course it matters who wins," Farris said. "Everyone goes out there to win. That’s the fun part of the game."

courtesy of John Kampf