CAMDEN — After an 0-6 season, it can sometimes be easy to get overlooked.

That’s why, when he received the call, Polytech High’s Cameron Mack was ecstatic to learn that he had been chosen to represent his school in this Friday night’s 65th annual DFRC Blue-Gold all-star football game at the University of Delaware.

“I was really excited, because I worked really hard and sometimes you can get overlooked,” Mack said. “We have a lot of players who work really hard and they can get overlooked because we weren’t that successful (this year), so I was so excited that I was one of the guys to get picked … I wish some of our other guys got picked too, but I’m really excited to represent Polytech.”

The all-star game, which kicks off at 7 p.m., is hosted each year by the Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens with intellectual disABILITIES (DFRC) and all proceeds go toward the organization.

Each player is paired with a buddy through the DFRC’s hand-in-hand program. The players and buddies will meet on the field as part of the opening ceremonies, which are slated to begin around 6 p.m.

Mack spent all four years of his high school career with the Panthers’ football program, including the 2020 COVID-shortened fall season, which Polytech finished 0-6 with one game canceled.

The receiver/cornerback will suit up for the Gold squad as Polytech’s lone representative.

“I’m glad I get one last game,” he said. “The fans, my mom, everybody can be there to watch too, so I’m really excited for that.”

The Gold team, primarily comprised of senior players from downstate schools and led by Middletown head coach Zach Blum, opened practice over the weekend at Caesar Rodney High School.

Last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic and this year’s lead-up events between the players and the hand-in-hand buddies have primarily been remote in order to keep the kids safe, but DFRC executive director Tony Glenn has made sure the buddies and players have still interacted with each other as much as possible.

“So far so good,” said Blum. “It’s great to be around the guys and around the kids for a great cause. I think with missing it last year, it makes you extra cognizant of just how all this comes together.

“The DFRC staff has done a great job of doing things virtually and in fact during practice today we got a chance to log in to a Zoom meeting. We got a chance to dance around a little bit with the buddies and enjoy each other’s company through Zoom, so that was fun. It’s a great chance to be together.”

Mack said the excitement level he’s seen from the buddy program has been just as great while doing the events virtual.

“I attended the dance parties, we did some arts and crafts virtually, and that’s all been a lot of fun,” Mack said of the virtual events. “They’re doing a great job, I want to just thank everyone who’s involved with putting it together. It’s been my first time seeing the buddies and they’ve all been so excited. I wish we could be with them, but they’re still so excited when we see them virtually … I’m excited to meet the buddies and see them face to face and not just virtually.”