There were plenty of times this year when St. Aloysius coach BJ Smithhart made Drake Dorbeck a captain.

Dorbeck would walk out to midfield with his teammates and tower over every single one — an oak tree among baby ferns. It was almost comical. Squint hard enough and you could see the whites of the opposing team’s eyes as they looked over the mammoth they were tasked with trying to stop. It was an intimidation factor not many teams could replicate.

But Dorbeck wasn’t just out there because of his size. When it comes to playing football, the senior’s career was also larger than life.

Dorbeck’s on-field accomplishments, which helped pave the way for a run to the 2014 Class 1A championship game, will be honored when he plays in the 28th annual Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game Saturday at noon.

“It’s an honor,” Dorbeck said. “It really is. It’s going to be a good experience and I’m glad they picked me.”

Dorbeck assisted in opening up holes for two 1,000-yard rushers in 2014 while recording 79 total tackles and four sacks as a defensive lineman. He also recovered three fumbles and batted down eight passes.

His coach estimates he played nearly 100 snaps a game as he was called upon to be a two-way star for a team that boasted plenty of them.

He’s the first player from St. Al selected for the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game since linebacker Noah Slater in 2005. Slater, a Katrina refugee from New Orleans, only spent one season at St. Al. Dorbeck has been there for years. Dorbeck is also the only player from a Class 1A school on this year’s Mississippi roster.

“Football wasn’t his first love. He’ll be the first to tell you that,” Smithhart said. “About 10th grade year, the light just came on. He really loved it. He worked hard and, to his credit, he got better and better.”

That was good news for the Flashes.

Dorbeck, who has committed to Southern Miss, has started every game in his high school career. Next summer, he’ll head to Hattiesburg to help coach Todd Monken and company continue to rebuild a program steeped in rich tradition as a member of Conference USA.

“I see a lot of potential. That was big in the decision-making,” Dorbeck said. “They have a lot of talent coming up. Coach Monken, he’s a good coach. He’s got a lot of energy. I went down there to the Alcorn game earlier this season. You can tell he’s very energetic. All the players like him.”

The two-star recruit also has an offer from Louisiana Tech, but believes his name will mean more in Mississippi. On Saturday afternoon, he’ll get his chance to represent his home state on the football field.

“This is really an honor for the whole school,” Smithhart said. “He represents all of us. We’re proud of him.”

Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game

Time: Saturday, Noon

Location: Montgomery, Ala.

TV: WLBT

Local players: Chris Stamps (DB/WR, Warren Central) and Drake Dorbeck (OL/DL, St. Aloysius)