It was a common sight during Porters Chapel football games this season.

At the end of a play, Matt Hall would come out of the pile with one arm dragging and a painful grimace on his face. After a few seconds of agony, he’d collect himself and head back into the huddle. His arm wasn’t feeling any better. He just found some level of determination most people never do and decided it didn’t hurt enough to keep him out of the game.

And Hall not only played, he excelled. He finished the season with 150 tackles and 10 sacks as a defensive tackle. He started at right tackle on the offensive line. And tonight he’ll finish his career as one of the state’s best by playing in the Mississippi Private School Association’s all-star game. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Mississippi College’s Robinson-Hale Stadium in Clinton.

“I consider it to be an honor, especially since there’s not many of us from a 1A school,” Hall said of his all-star selection. “It’s more than just another game. I’m glad my last high school game wasn’t that (playoff) loss to Glenbrook.”

Hall first hurt his shoulder in the second game of the season. Even now, he’s not sure how bad the injury is.

“They think it might be a torn labrum,” he said. “We’re getting an MRI done next week.”

After missing the last four games of the 2006 season with a knee injury, he didn’t want to sit out any part of his senior year. So he simply endured the pain — made even worse by playing both offense and defense — and refused to come out. The effect was playing a demanding position with one arm for most of the year.

At some point of nearly every game, his shoulder would be jolted enough to faze him but not enough to force him to the bench.

“His dad was standing right there saying let him play. And he was too good of a player to take him out,” PCA coach Randy Wright said. Hall’s father, Jimmy, is a part-time assistant coach for PCA.

Hall said he just didn’t want to let the team down.

“I feel like I would’ve let my team down. I wanted to win a state championship and be a part of it,” Hall said.

Hall will be joined on the South team by Tensas’ Phillip Carpenter and Central Hinds players Ryan Oliver and Tim Thomas.

Briarfield Academy in Lake Providence will have three players for the North team — Jon Jon Taylor, Sam Minsky and Luke Clement. Briarfield reached the North State championship game this season.