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When recent Fremont High graduates Luke Hollingsworth and Jake Gallegos took the field last week—likely for the final time as teammates—each was hit by a moment of uncertainty.

What was the appropriate level of intensity for the annual Utah High School Football Coaches 5A/4A All-Star Game?

"I asked Jake what he was going to do on the first play," Hollingsworth said. "I said, 'Are you going full speed?' And he looked at me and said, 'Are you going full speed?'

"He looked at me and said, 'We might as well. It's an all-star game.' I said 'We might as well take it serious. Every game's serious to me.' "

The defensive linemen set the tone early and combined for 2.5 sacks and another two tackles for loss as the North team rallied for a last-minute 20-19 victory.

Leaving the gridiron victorious was nothing new for Hollingsworth and Gallegos, who were part of back-to-back Class 5A state runner-up teams. The duo started alongside each other each of the past four years, three at Fremont.

But for the pair of all-state linemen, the victory Saturday at Alta High was followed by a dose of reality.

"We played alongside each other forever," Hollingsworth said. "After we won and everything, I told him this was probably the last time we'll play with each other. I faked crying a little, just messing with him. Then we hugged."

Added Gallegos: "It was really cool. We've always been friends, but we've had a competitiveness between us, which I think drives us to be better. I always knew what I had with Luke next to me. I always knew he would make plays when we needed them."

Both will remain in state for the start of their college career. Gallegos earned a scholarship to play at Utah State, just two miles from Logan High, where he spent all of last week preparing for the all-star game.

Hollingsworth will play at Snow College, where he expects to play as a stand-up defensive end — "Sort of a Clay Matthews type," he explained.

Gallegos, whose goal is to pursue a career as a sports agent, said he is most looking forward to the speed of the game at the Division I college level and is prepared to join cousins Zach and Nick Vigil playing for an Aggies program on the rise.

"It's amazing to see how much faster the game gets," said the 6-foot-3 Gallegos. "How much bigger and stronger everybody is. We're no longer the big guys on top, we're now low men on the totem pole. We're never going to be bigger than those guys, walking around with 6-8 behemoths."

Hollingsworth said his lack of size — he was listed as 6-foot-2 and 214 pounds during the season — scared off some schools. He has bulked up to 256 pounds and looks forward to playing a speed position at Snow, traditionally a team ranked nationally.

"It's going to be completely new," Hollingsworth said. "I just want to show that I can play with the big boys." —

Splitting a pair

Recent Fremont graduates Jake Gallegos and Luke Hollingsworth teamed up for likely the final time last week as the defensive linemen helped their team win the annual 5A/4A All-Star football game.

Gallegos • Will play in the fall at Utah State, had 1.5 sacks and a tackle for loss in the South's 20-19 victory Saturday at Alta High.

Hollingsworth • Started the past three years alongside Gallegos for the Silverwolves, had a sack and a tackle for loss in the win. He will play at Snow College this year.