Second-half rally propels South
The South turned a single momentum-changing takeaway into a dramatic comeback, rallying from a 17-point deficit to defeat the North 30-17 in the 2017 Lions District 4-A1 All-Star football game at Wayne Schneider Stadium in Tracy.
For the first half, the game belonged to the North and to the much-anticipated passing connection between St. Mary's quarterback Jake Dunniway and Stagg receiver Cutrell Haywood. Dunniway hit Haywood for a first-quarter 10-yard touchdown, then after a 46-yard field goal by Thomas Sidtikan of Ripon, found Haywood again on a long touchdown pass late in the second quarter that sent the North into halftime up 17-0.
The South flipped the game in the third quarter, starting with a huge interception by Devan Bass of Turlock Pitman. Bass picked off a pass from Jack Weaver and returned it to the North 26-yard line, immediately putting the South in position to score. On the first play of the drive, Danny Velasquez of Turlock fired a pass to Chris Brown of Modesto Christian for a 26-yard touchdown.
Because the Lions Game uses a rule allowing a team trailing by at least 10 points to retain possession after scoring, the South got the ball right back and struck again. Velasquez connected with Cadrian McDaniels of Golden Valley, who cut through traffic for a 48-yard touchdown, then ran in the conversion points to pull the South within 17-14.
After the South forced and recovered a fumble, Velasquez delivered the go-ahead blow himself with a 35-yard touchdown run. Bryce Wade of Central Catholic added the extra point for a 21-17 lead with less than a minute left in the third quarter. Velasquez later led a 76-yard drive that ended with his second rushing touchdown of the game, a 12-yarder, stretching the margin to 28-17.
The South closed the scoring on a safety, when Cullen Bearden of Oakdale sacked Dunniway in the end zone. By the end of the night, Velasquez had been named the game's Most Valuable Player, while Bearden earned Defensive MVP and also was selected as the South's Most Inspirational Player. Haywood took home the Offensive MVP plaque, and Andrew Farley of Weston Ranch was honored as the North's Most Inspirational Player.
View 2017 North Roster View 2017 South Roster
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