The underdog of the 31st Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star
football game? The South All-Stars would have none of it.
San Jose – The underdog of the 31st Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star football game? The South All-Stars would have none of it.
The South, which included local graduates Jared Gamm and John Torres of Gilroy High, as well as Shaun Standridge and Justin Vertin of Live Oak, was down 16-12 in the waning moments of the game.
A fourth-down trick play changed all that. Quarterback T.J. DeStefano of Branham tossed a short pass to Santa Teresa running back Marlon Rosales behind the line of scrimmage. Rosales threw a 36-yard pass to Piedmont Hills receiver Terrence Critchlow, who leaped high to snare the ball at the North 8-yard line. It took the South three more plays to get to the goal line and set up Steven Piñon, also of Piedmont Hills, for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:12 remaining.
The 18-16 score in the South’s favor would hold up, as the North’s last hope to score was dashed with 20.8 seconds to go when the South’s Dytanion Eley intercepted a long pass at the South 5.
“Give everything up to the defense,” said Standridge, who returned the second half’s opening kickoff 18 yards and had two catches for 44 yards in the win.
Gamm had a fourth quarter tackle and was in the mix for much of the game playing strong safety.
“The defense played a great game,” Gamm said. “(The North) was supposed to come out and throw the ball. … The defensive line was awesome and I think that was a huge part of the defense’s success.”
Both of the North’s touchdowns were off kickoff returns. Aside from those points, the South held the North’s offense to one first-quarter field goal.
For lineman Torres, the All-Star game was something he had been looking forward to since the beginning of his high school career. The thrilling end was just icing on the cake.
“This is a dream come true, pretty much,” Torres said of a game played before an overflow crowd at San Jose City College. “After you see it freshman or sophomore year, you always want to play in it.
“I’m still shocked about the win,” he added.
Playing on the same team for the classic was just a preview of what’s to come for Standridge, Torres and Vertin. All three are taking their games to Gavilan College in the fall.
All four TCAL representatives got a chance to bond with players who were their Central Coast Section rivals last season. Center Vertin enjoyed playing on the same team and defensive line as Oak Grove rival Adley Fagaautau.
“Everybody got along really well,” Vertin said about the South team, which came together during a week’s worth of practice sessions.
“It didn’t feel like an all-star team, which is rare,” Gamm said.
“All the guys here have the right to come out and be all about themselves.”
The South team also bonded with the knowledge that they were playing for J.R. Adams of Gilroy, the star running back for Valley Christian who died in March. Players had “J.R. R.I.P.” decals on their helmets and the South team broke huddles by shouting “For J.R.”
At halftime, Adams’ family was presented with their son’s South All-Star jersey, bearing his No. 3.
The tribute had a particular effect on Standridge and Torres, who were friends with Adams. Standridge met him during their sophomore year through a mutual friend and Torres worked out with Adams from time to time.
“We were playing for him,” Torres said. “He was a good friend, good kid.”
Standridge added after the game, “He was with us all along.”
Oak Grove’s Burton Iosefa, who narrowly beat out Gilroy’s Justin Sweeney for the CCS rushing title last year, was the South’s standout of the night. He scored two touchdowns and led all rushers with 86 yards on eight carries.
