Interceptions key Lion’s All-Star victory
Manteca High’s Ronaldo Tijero (3) of the North draws double coverage from Modesto’s Kendall McNair (1) and Patterson’s Alec Espos on Saturday in the 43rd Annual District 4-A1 Lions All-Star Football G
TRACY – The South scored on interceptions on the final play of first half and late in the second half, defeating the North 28-20 for the second year in a row and third in the last four outings Saturday night in the 43rd Annual District 4-A1 Lion’s All-Star Game at Tracy High’s Wayne Schneider Stadium.
Downey’s Tyran Daniels – the game’s Most Valuable Player – snagged a pass 2 yards deep in the end zone and as time expired on the first-half clock ran, bulled and pranced 102 yards to give the South a 14-6 halftime lead.
With 1:27 left in the game and the South trailing 21-20, Central Catholic’s Jacob Days iced the game with a 27-yard interception return for the 28-20 final score.
“It was back and forth,” North coach Don Norton said. “I think the kids on the North team played their hearts out.
“They worked hard all week and I am very proud of those kids.”
The game was not one of precision. There were 11 combined turnovers and a copious amount of penalties – many of which resulted in time-consuming discussions by the officiating crew.
One of the turnovers came at the hands of Manteca’s Marcus Rivas (four tackles). The Buffaloes linebacker stripped a South running back of the ball and tried to bust loose with the recovery but was tackled before he could get going.
“The coaches were telling me to go over the top on the quarterback when he did the fake option,” Rivas said. “When I saw that ball come out I thought of all they talked about all week with scooping and scoring and I tried to do it.”
“If I got a chance to do this again, I would do it in a second.”
East Union’s Austin Miller had four tackles and a pass deflection for the North.
“I don’t think the score was indicative of how we played,” Miller said. “But it was a lot of fun playing against the best.”
Sierra’s Andrew Guevara helped anchor the North defensive line and had two tackles.
“We practiced hard all week,” Guevara said. “And there was some competition out there, that’s for sure.”
Weston Ranch defensive back Erron Duncan was forced to leave the game early due to a sprained thumb, but not before making three tackles and breaking up a pass for the North.
“Throughout the week it was great getting to know everyone,” Duncan said. “We are all on the same level.”
Two-way Manteca standout Ronaldo Tijero made a tackle for the North and pulled in a conversion pass in the third quarter to tie the score at 14-14. Tijero had an opportunity to play in an all-star baseball game Friday, but chose to play Saturday night instead.
“We have been working on that play all week,” Tijero said of the conversion pass. “I was just open and I caught it.
“These were definitely the best players in the area.”
Despite the South’s recent success, the North leads the series 25-16-2