Area footballers chosen for 'Touchback'

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - More than 1,200 players wanted to be extras in the movie "Touchback" starring Kurt Russell and being filmed in Coopersville. But only 38 were chosen, and many of them from West Michigan.

Producers needed to fill the rosters for two teams. "Team Coldwater" is guided by Coach Hand (Russell), while "Team Cuyahoga" is led by Marc Ellis.

More filming is scheduled for August 13, 16 and 17 at the Coopersville High School football field from 9 p.m. - 6 a.m. Extras are needed to sit in the stands during those hours. Refreshments, prizes and entertainment nightly are planned, producers say.

Russell's co-star in the film is Brian Presley. The director is Don Handfield.

Here's the complete list of football-playing extras:

TEAM COLDWATER:

• Ryan McManus from Stow, OH and played at Wake Forest
• Stephen Wasil from Commerce Twp, MI and played at Grand Valley State
• Jacob McGuckin from Grand Rapids, MI and played at Grand Valley State
• Chris McKinney from Lawrenceville, GA and played at NC State and Arena football
• Timothy Balice from Kalamazoo, MI and played at Western Michigan
• Everett Stephenson from Detroit, MI and played at Wayne State
• Jeff Hachigian from Macomb, MI
• Dennis Rutka from Marne, MI and played at Coopersville High School
• Andre Benjamin from Grand Rapids, MI
• Dwayne Holmes from Van Buren Twp., MI and played at Michigan State
• Mike Sheldon from Royal Oak, MI and played at Albion College
• Matthew Carter from Allendale, MI and played at Allendale High School
• Michael Simon from Kentwood, MI and played at Grand Rapids Community College
• Jordan Havercamp from Nobleville, IN and played at DePauw
• Thomas Bissett from Jenison, MI
• Josh Lanser from Jenison, MI and played at Hope College
• John Preston from Newaygo, MI and played at Ferris State
• Mitch Cummings from Big Rapids, MI
• Adam Dekyger from Fremont, MI
• Kevin Shurlow from Lakeview, MI
• Quentin Sweat from Grand Rapids, MI
• Beau Hoffman from Chesaning, MI
• Aaron Higginbottom from Detroit, MI and played at Wayne State
• Adam Powers from Plymouth, MI and played at Kalamazoo College
• Matt Anderson from Grand Rapids, MI and played at Hope College

TEAM CUYAHOGA:

• Bernard Faithful from Detroit, MI and played at the University of Toledo
• Jake Visser from Grand Rapids, MI, played at Coopersville High School and Ferris State
• Philepae Phillips from Grand Rapids, MI, played at Grand Rapids Community College
• Tyler Moore from Comstock Park, MI and played at Purdue
• Scott Gajos from Kalamazoo, MI and played at Western Michigan University
• Zach Nichols from Brighton, MI and played at Northern Michigan University
• Jason Kelly from Auburn, MI and played at Saginaw Valley State University
• Blake Smolen from Grand Rapids, MI and played at Grand Valley State
• Matt Flutur from Allendale, MI and played at Grand Valley State
• Ryan Sloth from Greenfield, IA and played at Iowa State University
• Daryl Graham from Detroit, MI and played at Wayne State University
• Brian Grysen from Hudsonville, MI and played at Elmhurst College
• Justin Trumble from Macomb, MI and played at Grand Valley State