The Cupertino Courier

Sports

Scudellari takes a 'Chantz,' and North wins

By DICK SPARRER

Rich Scudellari took a "Chantz," and when he did he hit the jackpot.

The St. Francis quarterback's cross-field pass to Westmont's Chantz Staden with 1:19 left to play helped the North clinch a 7-3 victory over the South in the 32nd edition of the Silicon Valley Youth Classic Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game. That North win snapped a string of four straight South victories, though the South still holds a 17-13-2 edge in the series.

The touchdown in the final minute-plus of play created an exciting end to what had been a rather dull summer all-star classic to that point. And it touched off a celebration on the North sidelines that carried over into the post-game festivities.

Scudellari may have taken a chance by throwing a pass back across the field, but it was no gamble. When he rolled right, then threw back to the left, he had all the confidence in the world that Staden would be there, and that he'd make the catch.

"I saw the front-side blitz coming, so I stepped back and rolled out," said Scudellari, who gave his teammates credit for his protection, but took no credit even though he stepped out of a would-be tackle to avoid the sack.

"I was looking across the field for Chantz," added the quarterback. "I knew he would be there. Chantz never quits."

Staden was there, along with a defender. The talented receiver made the catch, sidestepped the defender and danced into the end zone for the only touchdown of the night.

"It was a broken play," said Staden. "The quarterback rolled out to the right, and I was across the field. He threw me the ball, and I stepped past a guy to score."

"So, you put a good move on the defender?" Staden was asked. A nod and a wry smile provided the answer.

A 22-yard field goal by Ben Hansen of Valley Christian had given the South a 3-0 lead with 5:19 left in the first half, but the touchdown late in the game proved the difference.

Still, winning and losing isn't all that's important in the game that's sponsored each summer by the Almaden Rotary Club.

"Playing against all these guys, it was a great honor," said Scudellari. "It's a great game, and the money raised benefits local charities. I wish them all the luck in the world in future games."

"It was great playing with kids who are the best of the best," added Staden.

The South's Shaun Souza of Pioneer agrees.

"It was a great experience, knowing you are with all the best players in the area," he said.

"You always want to go out and win," he added. "We played hard the whole game, but things just didn't work out for us."

It was a game marred by penalties and fumbles, but that didn't detract from the excitement in the final minutes.

The North took over at its own 35 with 6:43 left following a fake punt by the South, and Scudellari--working behind an offensive front of tackles Mark Boskovich (St. Francis) and Sioeli Fakalata (St. Francis), guards Josh Lodge (Santa Clara) and Augie Lageman (Saratoga), center Jason Gray (Mitty) and tight end Blake McFarland (Leigh)--led his club on a 12-play, 65-yard drive the game-winning touchdown.

Scudellari completed passes of 26 and 19 yards to Michael Almond (Milpitas) and six yards to Emilio Hernandez (Del Mar), and Matt Taufoou (St. Francis) carried twice for 14 yards to key the drive that Scudellari capped with the 15-yard toss to Staden. Scudellari kicked the important extra point that put the North up by four.

Adam Pittman (Los Altos), who had covered a loose ball on the night's opening kickoff to give the North possession, recovered a fumble on the kickoff after the TD, and the North seemed to be in control with only seconds left to play.

But Melis Barota (Leland) recovered a North fumble at the South four-yard line with just 47 seconds left to play, giving his club one last gasp of hope.

It was short-lived. Carlos Alonso (Los Gatos) intercepted a pass near midfield and ran it back to the 10. A penalty nullified the return, but the North squad still had possession and Scudellari took a knee to close out the win.

Taufoou had a big night in the North win. He led his club in rushing with six carries for 38 yards, and he was the squad's defensive leader with seven tackles.

Alonso, Pittman, Fakalata and Mark Pariaszevski (Fremont) were in on four tackles each in the win, and Kevin Metsers (Mountain View), Jerry Ogg (Santa Clara), Josh Lodge (Santa Clara), Caleb Wilcox (Homestead) and Brian Josefowicz (Del Mar) got in on three each.

Nate Otten (Santa Clara), Staden, Pete Cronin (Los Altos), John Eseroma (Prospect), Jay Atkins (Homestead), Donte Almond (Milpitas), A.J. Comeau (Los Gatos), Boskovich, Juan Arce (Fremont) and Daniel Huskin-Jones (Prospect) were also in on tackles for the North.

Scudellari finished the night hitting on 6 of 15 passes for 87 yards, going to M. Almond four times for 66 yards.

Duce Ferrante (Branham) was the offensive leader for the South, completing 5 of 17 passes for 92 yards and also running six times for 28 yards. Jalal Beauchman (Bellarmine) caught two passes for 52 yards and J.J. Goulden (Pioneer) grabbed one for nine and David Carranza (Silver Creek) one for 38.

Jerid Ferranti (Oak Grove) carried 11 times for 27 yards and Dustin Muhn (Live Oak) twice for 25.

The South outgained the North 173-138 in total offense, working behind offensive linemen Tim Danser (Bellarmine), Joshua Taufalele (Independence), Xavier Mejia (Mt. Pleasant), Anthony Torrez (James Lick) and Bobby Best (Gilroy), Jason Romero (Live Oak) and Jake Manzano (Evergreen Valley).

C.J. Miller (Pioneer) was the defensive star for the South with a game-high nine tackles, including a quarterback sack and a forced fumble. Josh Grant (Oak Grove) and Michael Dally (Leland) were in on five tackles apiece and David Gonzales (Santa Teresa) was in on four.

Nick D'Antonio (Pioneer) picked off a pass and got in on three tackles, and Dally had the fumble recovery to go with three stops. Mohamed Marah (Oak Grove), Nathan Goldie (Live Oak) and Matt Zuniga (Bellarmine) also had three tackles each.

A.J. Alvarez (Valley Christian) had two fumble recoveries to go with a couple of tackles and Christopher Jones (Piedmont Hills), Quentrel Hunter (Independence), Terezz Canty (Oak Grove), Manzano, Faraz Ellahie (San Jose), Christopher Collins (Silver Creek), Bryan North (Valley Christian) and Danser also got in on tackles. Joe Duran (Evergreen) recovered a fumble.