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Scheduling changes again have affected the inaugural Nick Lynch Kickoff Classic.

The event is still scheduled to take place Sept. 5, but the site and some teams have changed.

Suitland High School will be one of four Prince George's County teams involved, as the Rams and new head coach Ed Shields will face County 4A League rival Henry A. Wise High. Another game will match DeMatha against Riverdale Baptist.

The event, named in memory of former Suitland coach Nick Lynch, who died in an automobile accident on Dec. 31, originally was scheduled for Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, but has been moved to North Point High School in Waldorf. Along with the location, the starting times also have been altered.

Event organizer and Bowie resident Tony Kennedy, who represents non-profit Extra Point Productions, said the economy and finances were among the reasons for the changes.

"We decided to have it at North Point because it's a better location for the schools that we have," Kennedy said. "It has a seating capacity of 5,000 and the capacity for more than that. There was no problem for the schools to switch. We have two Upper Marlboro teams and Suitland from Prince George's County, and DeMatha travels anyway."

DeMatha and Riverdale Baptist will meet for the first time at 2 p.m. Suitland will face Wise at 4:30 p.m. instead of the originally scheduled 5 p.m.

District rivals Anacostia and Theodore Roosevelt get the day started at 11:30 a.m., while Southern Maryland Athletic Conference opponents North Point and Northern-Calvert close out the four-game slate at 7 p.m.

The Anacostia/Roosevelt game replaces the Old Mill-Arundel game that had been originally set for 11 a.m. The night game involving the two SMAC teams replaces the Gilman-Bear Creek (Colo.) showdown. Kennedy said Gilman backed out when the venue was switched from Annapolis to Waldorf.

Kennedy said North Point's facilities offer extra practice fields, which the Annapolis stadium did not. This will provide space for teams waiting to play to warm up so that they'll be ready to play 30 minutes after the conclusion of the previous game.

Derrick Monroe, a board member with Extra Point Productions, said advance tickets have not gone on sale yet. When they do, a $10 admission will be good to see all four games. Proceeds from the Lynch Classic will go toward the Nick Lynch Scholarship Fund, the area's Boys and Girls Clubs and each participating school's athletic funds.

Crab Bowl players selected

Sixteen Prince George's County rising seniors have been selected to participate in the 2009 Maryland Crab Bowl All-Star Game Dec. 19 at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson. The event matches a team from the Baltimore area competing against a team comprised of players from Prince George's and Montgomery counties, as well as the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference.

DeMatha High has six players on the roster: Marcus Coker (RB), Arie Kouandjio (OT), Shane Johnson (OL) and safeties Lorenzo Waters, Michael Coley and Jeff Knox. Gwynn Park has three with linebacker Brian Blue, defensive end Jerome June and running back Khalek Shepherd.

Wide receivers Brandon Coleman (Bishop McNamara), Antonio Belt (Forestville), Devin Goode (Riverdale Baptist) and Devonta Tabannah (Potomac) also were selected, along with Friendly's Jordan Haden (S), Henry A. Wise's Titus Till (DB) and Oxon Hill's Malik Cross (LB).

Two Crusaders get offers

Riverdale Baptist High football coach Bob Shields said two of his defensive backs have received college scholarship offers. Brian Burns received an offer from Temple University in Philadelphia on Monday, and Steven Thames, who transferred from St. John's (D.C), got an offer from Delaware State University in Dover, Del., on Saturday. Burns was a Gazette-Star Second Team selection last season.

"I'm glad to see that both of these kids get offers," Shields said. "Steven's very mature, polished and he's got good size (6-0, 175). Brian really liked the camp at Temple. He loved the campus and his family is from there. He is still considering Maryland, so he's in the best of both worlds."

Staff Writer Ted Black

contributed to this story.

E-mail Adam Rubenstein at arubenstein@gazette.net.