By Paul Doherty Sports Editor San Jose – The outcome of the 33rd
Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football game came down to the final
minutes, with Morgan Hill representatives making crucial plays up
to the end.
By Paul Doherty Sports Editor
San Jose – The outcome of the 33rd Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football game came down to the final minutes, with Morgan Hill representatives making crucial plays up to the end.
As Red Bull skydivers descended upon Spartan Stadium to deliver the game ball at the 50-yard-line to Charlie Wedemeyer, Kevin Abbott and Victor Kalata from Live Oak, and Juvenal Rodriguez from Sobrato waited in anticipation for the opening kickoff.
Abbott and Kalata played vital minutes, and Rodriguez was mostly designated to the special teams squad for the South All-Stars, helping mount a third quarter comeback to tie the game 21-21.
The North All-Stars scored the first touchdown with 5:35 left in the first quarter on a 10-yard pass from Monte Vista quarterback Alex Atkins to Los Gatos wide receiver Dave Martini.
On the ensuing kickoff, the South’s Kevin Gonzalez, from Bellarmine, picked up the ball at the 16-yard-line and weaved his way 84 yards for a touchdown.
Rodriguez had a key block on the return.
Kalata would play tough pass and run protection at strong safety, and Abbott would make crucial blocks at running back for the South squad giving them a 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
At the 7:25 mark of the second quarter, on second-and-third down, Abbott caught a pass from Oak Grove quarterback Kevin Vye and sprinted 10 yards for a 22 yard pick-up and first down.
On the next play Abbott takes a handoff from Vye for a 16 yard gain and another first down.
Three plays later, with Abbott out of the game, the North’s Tyler Dimich from Milpitas High picks off a pass from Vye and returns it 66 yards for a touchdown giving the North a 14-13 advantage.
With approximately 2:00 left in the second quarter the North All-Stars would strike again on a 38-yard pass from from Palo Alto High quarterback Nick Goodspeed to Prospect High’s Kendall Hendon.
In the annual All-Star classic a kickoff that goes in the end zone is an automatic touchback.
Rodriguez, who was on the field for every special teams play, didn’t get a chance to make a tackle as the superb kickers for the North All-Stars put the ball in the end zone on every kickoff.
With time ticking down and the North All-Stars ahead 21-13, the South squad would try to score before the half but would not be successful.
On a third-and-18 from the South’s 15-yard-line Abbott would get another chance to gain a first down, but would only gain three yards.
The South would be forced to punt, but time would expire into the half after the North’s first play, and both teams would head into the locker room with the North leading 21-13.
The South would receive the kickoff at the begining of the second half and control the ball for all but two drives in the third quarter.
South All-Star quarterback Daniel Cruz from Piedmont Hills’ would connect with Bellarmine’s Kevin Gonzalez on a first-and-goal from the four-yard-line to bring the score within two points.
The South would successfully go for the two-point conversion as Cruz finds tight end Anthony Schimdt from Valley Christian in the end zone.
The game would remain tied through the third quarter and up to the 8:59 mark in the fourth.
That’s when the North’s all-around kicker Kevin Blakely nails a 45-yard field goal on a fourth-and-18 to reclaim the lead for the North 24-21.
The South squad would advance into North territory but were unable to score again.
On the second to last play of tthe game with 1:59 on the clock, Kalata would make a big tackle stopping the North’s momentum, however the North would be able to run ouot the clock and claim victory.
Kalata, who will be playing running back at Gavilan College next fall was surprised with the pace of the game.
“It was tons of fun, but a lot quicker than I expected,” Kalata said. “Good luck to the Live Oak guys who get this opportunity next year, because I know there wil lbe a few of them.”
Rodriguez, who saw only one possision as linebacker for the South All-Stars was thankful for the expereince, but disappointed with the amount of playing time he recieved.
“I didn’t think I got enough of an opportunity out there tonight, but it was still a great experience,” Rodriguez said.
Abbott, who had the most action of all the Morgan Hill players, was smiling after the game despite the loss.
“When you’re playing with the best of the best you can only learn and get something good outt of it,” he said. “It’s a memory that only Victor and I can share.”
