Area stars part of winning effort in 30th Annual Wedemeyer
All-Star Game
SAN JOSE – It was quite the Hollywood ending for four local players at the 30th Annual Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game.
In a contest that came down to the final play, the South team – which included Gilroy’s Ben Hemeon and Melvin Bryant as well as Live Oak’s Daniel Salinas and Steven Conner – held on to beat the North squad, 20-15, in front of a packed house of 7,500 at San Jose City College.
“What a way to go out,” Hemeon said. “This was a blast … a lot of fun.”
The game, put on to give recent high school graduates from the Silicon Valley area one last chance to suit up, was a nail-biter the entire way.
The South’s 20-15 halftime lead managed to hold up during a scoreless second half … but barely.
South running back Jeremy Landucci of Pioneer High fumbled at his own team’s 17-yard line with the clock ticking down to 34 seconds in the fourth quarter.
After four shots at the end zone, a pass interference call with no time left gave the North one last chance from the 7-yard line. But they were denied once again as the South team ran onto the field in a wild celebration.
The South has now won three in a row in the series and five of the last six.
To end their careers with a victory was especially sweet for the two Acorns, who haven’t won a game since their sophomore year.
“Live Oak back in the win column,” said the excited Salinas, who’s normally a running back, but played cornerback for the first time in his life.
He suffered a mild concussion after a big hit early in the second half, but said he felt more than fine afterward.
“It feels good,” he said. “I’m just happy to get a win.”
Salinas, Conner and Bryant – all three Morgan Hill natives who have been carpooling to practice every day for two weeks – will now all become teammates at Gavilan College in the fall.
For Hemeon, though, this was the curtain call. And he went out in style – playing two quarters of football and sneaking in a fourth-and-goal touchdown right before halftime that gave his team a lead it never relinquished.
Hemeon will be attending Sacramento State, but will be concentrating on baseball. This was the last time ever in the pads.
“It felt a little strange taking them off for the last time,” Hemeon said. “I’ll definitely miss it.
“But you can’t beat the way it all ended.”
Can’t beat the way it started, either.
As the players were introduced before the game, each was greeted by Wedemeyer, who has miraclously survived 27 years with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Amazingly, Wedemeyer still manages to help coach the freshmen team at Los Gatos High.
The game also featured a moving halftime ceremony in honor of Pat Tillman, the former NFL star who turned down a multi-million dollar contract to join the U.S. Army Rangers.
Tillman, a Leland High graduate who played in the 1994 All-Star Game, was killed in action three months ago in Afghanistan. His father, Pat Tillman Sr., made a rare public appearance to help Wedemeyer greet the players before the game and to accept his son’s retired No. 42 jersey at halftime.
“It was an honor to be part of that,” Bryant said.
For Salinas, it was indicative of the entire experience.
“It was an inspiration to get to see both of them,” Salinas said. “It was just a great night all around.”
