Saratoga News

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Saratoga's Brennan Carroll (23) congratulates Ruben Elias Ortiz of Milpitas after a North pass completion.

North shines in 'star game

It's a game Goni will remember

By Dick Sparrer

The game lasted just under three hours. But the memories, as they say, will last a lifetime.

It was the annual summer battle between the North and South, and the area's outstanding graduated seniors gathered together for the Almaden Rotary-sponsored 23rd annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game at San Jose State University's Spartan Stadium.

The offer afforded the players one last opportunity to show off their talents and compete in a high school football game. And each player wanted to make the most of that opportunity.

"I just wanted to make my mark," said North linebacker Chad Purcell of Monta Vista. And he did... on the helmets and bodies of the South running backs as the North nailed a 27-19 victory.

Purcell was arguably the hardest hitter in the all-star classic, and he helped the North defense hold the South running backs to just 60 yards rushing in the game.

"I had a little more energy not playing offense," said Purcell, a star linebacker and running back for the Matadors last fall. But with so many outstanding players on the North squad, Purcell could concentrate on just playing defense.

Carlos Lanuza of Los Gatos knew the feeling, and he enjoyed being a member of the solid North squad.

"It was awesome... to be playing with the best," said Lanuza, an offensive guard for the North. "It was the best experience ever. It just makes you play to a higher level."

Lanuza and the rest of the men up front certainly played to a high level in the Wednesday night game. "We had just a great offensive line," he said. "All that meat going forward-- they weren't going to stop us."

And they didn't. The North offense ran 258 yards down the road to the victory. But it was more than just the outcome that made this game special.

"It was memorable," added North defensive back David Goni of Saratoga. "It was a good experience playing with the different guys you've been playing against for all these years."

Purcell agreed. "It was a lot of fun playing with these guys you've played against for four years," he said. "We bonded together after this week-- we're all teammates now."

And as a team, the North was determined to bring home a victory.

"Everyone wants to win," Goni said.

The win didn't exactly come easy, but it appeared it might in the early going.

Running back Charles Tharp (St. Francis), who led all ground gainer with 163 yards on 16 carries, took off on a 77-yard run down to the South one-yard line early in the first period.

A play later, Tony Elam (Homestead) followed his high school teammate, center Mark Glennon (Homestead), and guards Lanuza and Greg Smith (St. Francis) into the endzone for a touchdown. Goni kicked the extra point, and the North had a quick 7-0 lead.

Elam scored again later in the period when he hauled in a screen pass from quarterback Adam Perez (Milpitas) and raced 69 yards for a touchdown. Goni converted again, and the North was up 14-0.

But not for long. Rossi Martin (Oak Grove) returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a TD, and that quickly the North discovered it was in for a battle.

The South cut the lead to 14-12 before the half.

Tim Foley (Bellarmine) scooted 12 yards for a key first down, and Nathan Jackson (Pioneer) made a brilliant leaping catch of a Matthew Sonnick (Live Oak) pass for a 33-yard gain to the seven.

Sonnick went to Shawn Green (Independence) for the seven yards and the TD with 8:42 left in the half.

That's how it remained through intermission, but Milo Lewis (Mountain View) added to the North lead when he ran back the second half kickoff 97 yards for a score. Goni's third kick put the North on top 21-12.

Once more, though, the South came fighting back. Lemuel Adams (Oak Grove) pitched a 31-yard TD toss to a leaping Chris Lacy (Oak Grove) in the end zone.

The North fumbled the ball away after the kickoff, but they got the football right back when Coby Gillespie (Del Mar), who had already intercepted a South pass, batted a pass into the air and Ben Amiwero (Homestead) made the interception at the South 48.

Ten-yard runs by T.C. Everett (Wilcox) and Elam and a 37-yard pass from Everett to Ruben Elias Ortiz (Milpitas) pushed the North to the South five-yard line.

Tharp hit the line three times to take the ball to the one. Then, on fourth down, double tight ends Adam Peters (Monta Vista) and Brandon Morgan (Prospect) sealed things off, and Everett circled the right side to score the game's final TD.

Brennan Carroll (Saratoga), Steve Horner (Lynbrook) and Mat Meade (Westmont) were other local players to see action for the North squad in the win.

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