Sobrato’s Skyler King hadn’t participated in a high school football game in nearly two years, but someone forgot to tell that to Norm Brown, the head coach of the South squad at the 38th annual Charlie Wedemeyer Silicon Valley Youth Classic All-Star football game on Wednesday night.
Playing a vital role at nose tackle, King, who was ruled ineligible by the Central Coast Section for the 2011 season after he fulfilled enough credits to be considered a senior while a junior at Sobrato, hardly left the field during the South’s dramatic 26-21 victory over the North at Westmont High in Campbell. He recorded a pair of tackles – and missed a sack by a shoe lace – in his emotional return to the field.
“It … it means a lot,” he said. “For coach Brown to put me in first round and then coach Brown to pick me first out of everybody. It means a lot. I’m glad we won too.”
King was joined by two Sobrato teammates and two Live Oak representatives during the contest that was dominated defensively. The South clinched the win when Andrew Nwachuku (Piedmont Hills) intercepted Mike Butler’s (Mountain View) pass in the end zone with 3.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Live Oak’s Nikki Weber finished his high school career in furious fashion, knocking off his helmet on one of his three solo tackles. He also assisted on three others. Weber, roaming the middle of the field, played a majority of the defensive snaps in the first half and third quarter.
After Live Oak struggled to a 1-9 record during the year – credited with its lone win via forefit by Sobrato – Weber and teammate Derek Satterlee’s season ended well, they said.
“It’s such a good way to go out dude,” Weber said. “I thought it was going to get taken away from me at the end but you know … this is a good way to go out and good way to start the next level of my career. It was awesome. I’m used to getting blown out at Live Oak, so it was awesome to have a close game and pull out the win.”
Satterle played nearly half the game at the right guard spot, helping lift the South to its 26 points. Satterle was on the field for three scoring drives. The win, though, was unexpected.
“On both sides of the ball, we played our hearts out,” he said. “We came out and, I have to admit, we expected to lose. I’m going to say that with all honesty – we all said they were stacked. But you know, we came out here and put all of our heart in it. And we left our hearts out on the field.”
He continued: “This is the only game I’ve won in my senior year. I’ll be honest with you, it’s my most important one. I’m honored to play against all these guys.”
Sobrato’s Anthony Villarreal, the 2011 Santa Teresa Division’s Most Outstanding Defensive Back, spent most of his time trying to enjoy the moment, he said. On the field, he record one tackle while splitting time at cornerback and special teams.
“Probably the best experience I’ve ever been with,” he said. “We are all good out here. I had to get the crowd into the game because when it came to the fourth quarter it was pretty close. The fans were making us play better, so I was trying to get them pumped – trying to get some positive vibes.”
On the sidelines, Villarreal rarely stood still, waving at the crowd and helping corral the water jugs for the after-the-game celebration.
“It is the best ending of a high school career I could imagine,” he said. “Playing in this all-star game was an honor to me. I didn’t know I was playing in this until two, three weeks ago. I’m honored to be here. I can’t wait to be in college but I’m going to remember this as one of my best times in high school.”
It was an overwhelming experience for the whole team, Sobrato’s Nicholas Perry said.
“There was a lot of talent and it was a great way to end my high school career,” said Perry who played on the defensive line. “It was a close and hard game but we were able to pull off the win in the end. Everyone came through and went after the ball.”
But it was King who stood out for Perry, he said.
“I saw it in his face before,” Perry said. “He was a little sad because it was his only game . It was his first and last game of his senior year because he wasn’t able to play. But he played the whole game and he is going to go somewhere for sure. I know he is.”
King relished the opportunity Wednesday.
“I wished I would have got a sack or two but I know at nose you’re not going to get many with two or three guys on you,” he said. “You can’t fend off three guys – I’m not Superman … It was defiantly a good way (to end my senior year). I encourage every young kid that wants to play football to try hard to get out here because this is the best experience ever.”
The South took it to the North in the first quarter, building a 13-0 lead 12 minutes into the ball game. Tony Ulu (Independence) plunged 1-yard into the end zone – a score set up by a Mitch Ravizza (Willow Glen) 7-yard toss to Marcus Harrell (Christopher) down to goal line – for the South’s first six points. Ravizza (11-of-13 for 99 yards, four carries, 42 yards) then connected with Jourdan Soares (Gilroy) on a pretty fade to the back right corner for a 8-yard touchdown. That seven points was set up by a Ravizza-to-Soares 38-yard gainer.
The second quarter, though, belonged to the North, which tallied 14 unanswered points – including a interception turned 25-yard touchdown by Tyler Bond (Homestead) – to grab a 14-13 advantage at halftime.
The South put the finishing touch on its second double-digit lead after Johnny Beard (Piedmont Hills) scampered 61 yards to pay dirt on the second play of the fourth quarter.
Troy Doles’ (Saratoga) 5-yard touchdown run pulled the North within five, 26-21, with seven minutes left. A missed field goals at the end of a South 5-minute drive returned the ball to the North with 2:12 to play and 80 yards to go.
“It was a classic matchup of David and Goliath,” South head coach Norm Brown said. “They were giant. We knew they had a lot of talent. Our hats go out to the North. They took us all the way down to the end. That’s how an all-star game should finish.”
