Sports
Belton football player to play in All-Star game in France
Wednesday, 13 March 2013 by David Tuma
Belton senior center Erik Erwin was recently chose to represent the United States in a game against a 19-under team from France this spring.Erik Erwin who started at center for the Tigers last season and made all district overcame a serious injury his junior season was one of the feel good stories in 2012. Erwin worked hard to overcome injury and to beef up his 6' frame to hold 232 pounds of muscle.
In one of the most physically gifted districts in the nation, a 232-pound lineman is rare. Playing football in a district that if it was a state would have been ranked tied for 37th in terms of producing Division I football players isn't what most teams face week after week.
Erwin was chosen to represent the United States in a game against France's 19-under team this spring. As part of the American Football Worldwide organization Erwin will be part of an all-star team that will play against Frances's top team and a club team from Normandy.
They will practice just outside of Paris and get to tour both the City of Lights and the beaches of Normandy. Players from all over the country will play in the game. France finished sixth last summer at the national tournament held in Austin that Durham Smythe participated in.
"They called early this month. I can't make the FCA football game but because I was chosen for both but can't play in both games. I am excited to get to see Paris and Normandy. We will practice just outside of Paris," said Erwin.
Erik Erwin (52) goes for a block against Killeen during the Tigers’ 2012 football season. Erwin was chosen to participate in an International All-Star game this spring.He is from a football family his uncle Bryan coached LaMarque to two state championships and his uncle Mark coached for the Tigers. He watched LaMarque as a kid growing up and remembered the Texas City-LaMarque regional finals game that decided the state championship because he was there. The two towns are the same with only a rail road track marking the boarder. You don't go to the other side of the stands and don't even think about it.
"I really thought I had taken off my Tigers uniform for the last time. I will wear my helmet during the game and the entire uniform for the picture. That is a big deal to me. I think in my four years here we have helped bring Tigers football back. We didn't lose this past year we just ran out of time. We dominated the home games not losing a game and the road losses were real close. It happens that way sometimes. People are buying into what is happening in Belton and with the athletic building and scoreboard it brings Belton up to the level it needs to be at. What people don't see is the little kids who come talk to me telling me they want to wear my number #52 when they play for the Tigers. It is a big deal to them that I started for the Tigers. My best game this past year was against Temple's talented noseguard," said Erwin.
"Erwin was very deserving of being selected. He missed his entire junior year because of an ankle injury. That is a lot of time. It shows his character inside of him to come back from an injury like that and play the way he did," said Tigers head coach Rodney Southern.
