Jackson, Singleton, Frechette to suit up for South County
team
SAN JOSE — For 36 years, the Silicon Valley Youth Classic/Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Game has been the crown jewel of high school football in Santa Clara County, showcasing the area’s top graduates from the North and South. Many of whom are on track to play at the next level.
Michael Singleton thought he was done with football until he got “The Call” a few months ago. He was a first-team all-league inside linebacker at Live Oak High School but, essentially, walked away from the game in November after the Acorns were eliminated in the opening round of the Central Coast Section playoffs. Singleton still planned to put his strength and athleticism to good use; he enrolled in a firefighting program at Mission College.
Right now, he is looking forward to one more game.
“I was just really excited when I heard, really happy I made it,” Singleton said Wednesday. “I thought I wasn’t going to play again. I was getting over football. Then I found out I’m going to play with the best guys around. I got pretty stoked.”
Singleton will represent Morgan Hill along with Dylan Frechette, his old quarterback, kicker and defensive back at LOHS, and Sobrato two-way all-leaguer Ralph Jackson when the South County All-Stars play the North beginning at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Spartan Stadium.
Working together under defensive coordinator and coach Mike Carrozzo of Leland, the three locals will try to shut down the North’s offense — and help deliver their team’s first victory in five years.
The North has dominated the series as of late, though, the 2009 edition ended in a tie (28-28) for the third time in history. The South holds a 17-15 edge all time.
“We’re all very competitive, so we definitely want to win this game,” said Jackson, who, like Frechette, will see most of his playing time at cornerback. “We’re getting the best out of each other at practice.”
All three Morgan Hill players said the past two weeks of training at Santa Teresa High School have been the toughest they’ve experienced.
“You’ve got the best guys going full speed, full contact the whole practice. It gets pretty intense,” Frechette said. “They’re all just really good players across the board. It’s definitely an honor being a part of this.”
For players like Jackson and Frechette, who hope to play at San Jose State and West Valley College, respectively, the prep work is time well spent. Both have held their own covering the likes of star wideout Ryan Smith of Leland and chasing down running back Ronnie Isles of Hill, a pair of second-team All-Mercury News selections.
“I just try to do my best at practice no matter who I’m against,” Jackson said. “However many plays I end up getting, I feel fortunate to play in this game.”
Sobrato coach Nick Borello dubbed Jackson one of few legends in their young program’s history. Jackson was named Most Outstanding Defensive Back in the West Valley Division in fall and also led his team in rushing yards.
“He had one of the top seasons anyone’s had from Sobrato,” Borello said before talking about the Wedemeyer Game. “I told him that this will be the best high school football team he’s played on. Everyone’s going to be high tempo every snap, and nobody wants to get beat. I think he’s going to do fine (Wednesday).”
From taking snaps to covering the other team’s go-to receiver, Frechette never saw a dull moment in fall. His leadership helped on both sides of the ball.
“He commanded the huddle and had a presence about him,” Live Oak coach Jon Michael Porras said. “He was a great cover corner for us. He came (up) with some big plays.
“He is a very respectful player and easy to coach.”
Singleton was one vote shy of being Linebacker of the Year in the Mount Hamilton Division. He led the Acorns in tackles.
“He is the definition of a linebacker: tough, physical, nose for the football. Michael gave everything he had while he was on the field,” Porras said.
Though the South players have meshed well in practice, the 5-foot-10, 210-pound Singleton still savors every hit delivered against his old rivals.
“There’s definitely some past history between some of us,” he said. “But you get over that. We’re out here just playing a game.”
A SOMBER EDITION: Wednesday’s annual Silicon Valley Youth Classic/Charlie Wedemeyer Game comes almost a month after the death of Charlie Wedemeyer, the longtime high school football coach who inspired others during his long-term bout with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Wedemeyer died June 3 at age 64 after developing pneumonia following surgery. In past years, he personally greeted every player before the start of the All-Star Football Game presented by the Almaden Valley Rotary Club.
Wedemeyer was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at age 30 but was still able to coach Los Gatos to seven league championships, a section title, and a 78-18-1 record.
He was named Disabled American of the Year in 1992.
