HOMECOMING 2019
The countdown for Homecoming 2019 began with the announcement that the 46th Annual Central California Lions All-Star Football Game would return to Stockton after a seven-year hiatus. The game was scheduled for Saturday, June 15, 2019 at Lincoln High School's Alex G. Spanos Stadium, with pre-game festivities at 6 p.m. and kickoff at 7 p.m..
The return to Stockton was treated as a major homecoming for one of California's oldest and most respected high school all-star football events. Chase Chevrolet sponsored a special alumni tent where former players and coaches from the previous 45 Lions games could reunite, receive alumni lanyards, and be recognized during the evening. Former players were also reminded they could attend free by showing a player's card.
Organizers shared several game-day details with fans. Tickets at the gate were $10, with $5 parking available in Lincoln's lot. Entertainment plans included a pregame performance from World Of Dance U-JAM Fitness, plus halftime performances by the Cesar Chavez High School band and the Lincoln High Cheer Team.
The post also recapped the event's history. The Lions All-Star Football Classic began in 1974 at University of the Pacific's Memorial Stadium, moved to Modesto Junior College for two years, and then spent the previous six seasons at Tracy High's Wayne Schneider Stadium. The move to Lincoln High came with help from athletic director Brian Gray, and the stadium was promoted as one of the best high school football venues in California.
The competitive backdrop added more meaning to the 2019 game. The South had won the previous year's game 24-2 and had gone 5-0-1 over the previous six years, even though the North still led the all-time series 24-19-1. Because the North had been the home team in 2018, the South would be the designated home team in 2019 despite the return to Stockton.
Selected in January as head coaches for the year were Jason McCloskey (Coach Mac) of Mountain House for the North and Shawn King of Hughson for the South. The committee also thanked Darren Arbet, former San Jose Sabercats head coach and current Cabrillo College head coach, for serving as the featured speaker at the banquet held on April 6 at the Stockton Italian Athletic Club.
The announcement closed by congratulating former Lions player Kahale Warring, a 2015 Sonora graduate, on being drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. Warring's journey from walk-on at San Diego State to NFL draft pick was held up as an example for the 2019 all-stars. Team logistics were also outlined: the North would practice at Stagg High and stay in the University of the Pacific dorms, while the South would practice and stay at Cal State Stanislaus in Turlock. Team dinners were scheduled for June 11 at the Linden Lions Club for the North, and June 13 at the Turlock Lions Club for the South, with an additional Jimmy John's dinner sponsored by the Hughson Lions on June 11.