South all-stars top North 51-38
The North built what looked like a commanding first-half lead in the 42nd annual Central California Lions All-Star Football Game, but the South surged back in one of the wildest finishes in event history to claim a 51-38 victory at Wayne Schneider Stadium in Tracy.
The rally was powered by Modesto quarterback Nate Phillips, who was named the game's MVP after completing 13 of 19 passes for 127 yards, most of them in the second half as the South piled up four touchdowns and a field goal to erase the North's 38-21 halftime lead. The South also benefited from the Lions Game's special rule allowing a team trailing by nine or more points to receive the kickoff right back after scoring, helping it dominate possession for much of the third quarter.
North coach John Ward of Chavez said that constant change of possession made it difficult to regain momentum, but North offensive MVP Nate Jones of Tracy did not blame the rule. Jones said the South simply did what it needed to do to win. Even in defeat, he turned in one of the night's biggest performances, rushing for 124 yards and scoring two touchdowns, including the North's first score on a twisting 7-yard run and another on a long 88-yard sprint.
The North offense had no shortage of playmakers. Rashaad Cooper of Kimball added 126 rushing yards on 11 carries, including a 60-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Conner Hamilton of Calaveras ran for 66 yards on 17 carries and scored as well, while Chavez quarterback Julius Davila threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Johnson of Sierra and completed three two-point conversion throws.
Still, the South's balance won out. Along with Phillips, P.J. Wilson of Downey helped the South pile up 275 passing yards between the two quarterbacks, while the team finished with 478 yards of total offense. The South's running game also contributed, led by Justin Stefani of Buhach Colony with 69 yards and Phillips himself with 59 rushing yards.
The article also reflected on the demanding week leading into the game, with players enduring triple-digit heat, wind, and even rain during camp at Stagg High. Several Tracy-area players joined the North roster late, including Jones, Joshua Clarke, and Jacob Alvarado, but teammates said the group still bonded quickly and made the most of the experience.
The 51-38 final stood as the highest-scoring Lions game since the series began in 1974. Additional awards went to Labron Alofaituli of Sierra as the North's Most Inspirational Player, Alec Barcellos of Los Banos as the South's Most Inspirational Player, and Jakob Magana of Turlock as Defensive MVP.
View 2015 North Roster View 2015 South Roster