HAMPTON -- Amid the weeklong preparation in assembling two high school football all-star teams, Joseph "Ju-Ju" Clayton and D.J. Coles sneaked in a few card games.

Both the West and East VHSCA All-Star teams stayed in dorms at Hampton University during the week leading up to last night's all-star game. They broke up practices with boat rides, a trip to the Virginia Air & Space Center and pickup basketball games.

Clayton and Coles, both Virginia Tech recruits, teamed together when the East All-Stars played each other in Spades.

"We whipped some tail," Coles said, laughing. "We beat everybody in a couple of games."

Consider it the first partnership between Clayton and Coles, who make up part of Virginia Tech's 31-member recruiting class. Both also teamed up in last night's VHSCA All-Star game, where the West won 7-0 over the East at Darling Memorial Stadium.

Clayton went only 2 of 9 for 39 yards on a team that split three quarterbacks: Clayton, Matthew Mitchell (Hampton) and Tommy Reamon Jr. (Gloucester). Sixteen area football players were on the East's roster.

Coles was a running back at Goochland and will convert to wide receiver for the Hokies. Clayton led Hermitage to its first Central Region championship since 1984 and earned the Times-Dispatch All-Metro player of the year award.

The two spent time together on their official visits, at the All-Metro football team banquet in December and during this week in Hampton.

Their chemistry won't be tested right away, however. Coles, considered a four-star prospect by Rivals.com, plans to attend Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham this fall to improve his grades. Coles wasn't sure when he'll join the Hokies, but he's aiming for January 2009.

That's when Clayton will arrive at Virginia Tech. He's grayshirting, meaning he'll be a freshman in the fall of 2009. Clayton made that decision based on Tech's quarterback situation. After next year, Tyrod Taylor will be the Hokies' only scholarship quarterback.

Taylor, a freshman last fall who hosted Clayton on his official visit, split time with rising senior Sean Glennon last season.

"It'll help in giving me a chance to work on what I need to work on," said Clayton, who completed 153 of 255 passes for 2,117 yards and 22 touchdowns. "The footwork, speed and getting stronger, I'll have more time to improve that."

For now, the all-star game was the last time Coles and Clayton will play together until they're at Virginia Tech. Nonetheless, Coles found this past week valuable for his future with the Hokies. Hoping the preparation would help his familiarity at his new position, Coles worked on routes and catching.

In last night's game, Clayton found Coles open on a rollout in the first quarter. But Clayton's pass bounced off Coles' fingertips. He also bobbled a pass from both quarterback Mitchell and Clayton on deep routes in the second and third quarter, respectively.

"Judging the ball in the air -- those are the biggest things as a wide receiver," Coles said. "I'm learning the routes and I think I'm doing pretty well."

Coles can't find out soon enough, as he and Coles anticipate the day they unite as Hokies. For now, they'll just have to wait.

"When we start playing together, we'll get to work together more," Clayton said. "This week, we had a short time to work on all that."