Photograph by Jackie D'Antonio
Saratoga linebacker Kelly Matthew (13) grabs on for the tackle against Pioneer's Mike Wiens in the all-star football game. Matthew had three tackles for the North, but the South won 16-8.
South tops North in all-star game
Matthew, Heling among tackling leaders for North
By Dick Sparrer
There's never been much love lost between the football teams at Willow Glen and Pioneer.
The two schools enjoy a football rivalry that dates back to their early beginnings in the old Santa Teresa Athletic League.
But when Willow Glen quarterback David Macchi found Pioneer running back Mike Wiens open in the right flat, there was no time to think about past rivalries.
Macchi simply zipped a pass to Wiens, and the Pioneer back powered his way into the end zone for the touchdown that started the South on its way to a 16-8 victory over the North in the 26th annual Silicon Valley Youth Classic Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game.
"It was nice (to win), especially after we saw in the paper today that they were so much bigger," said Macchi, referring to a Wednesday morning article in the San Jose Mercury citing the overwhelming size of the North players.
TD tosses from Macchi to Wiens and from Julian Jimenez (Andrew Hill) to G.B. Wilson (Oak Grove) sparked the South 'stars to the win that gave them a 13-11-2 edge in the 26-year all-star series.
"We wanted to score first," said Macchi. "We wanted to shut them down, then score first."
And that's just what the South all-stars did. The defense stopped the North twice, then the offense pushed in a touchdown on its second possession of the night.
Wiens pulled in Macchi's pass near the line of scrimmage at the 11, then turned upfield to power in for the touchdown. He was met at the goal line by Prospect's Andrew Heling, but Heling paid the price as Wiens hammered into the end zone.
The touchdown started the South on the road to the victory. But for Wiens, the experience was just as important as the win.
"The experience was more like a college atmosphere," said Wiens of the his all-star participation. "It was a good experience. I've been waiting four years to do this."
North defensive back Reuben Masten of Del Mar certainly agreed.
"It was great," said Masten, who intercepted a Jimenez pass for the North. "I wish we could do it again."
Prospect defensive back Andrew Heling (8) holds on for the tackle again Kellen Taylor of Oak Grove in the all-star football game. Heling had four tackles in the game, but the North lost 16-8.
Photograph by Sebastian Widmann
North linebacker Andrew Bosworth of Saratoga also enjoyed the experience, but admitted that it was different.
"It was a lot of fun," said Bosworth. "It was disconcerting to the guys on the sidelines, because these were guys who had never really been on the sidelines before. We're used to playing more."
"So there was an adjustment period," he added. "And we had to adjust to new coaches. But we were out here just to have a good time. It was a lot of fun."
Fun, but also just a little tougher than the regular season.
"You know everyone is bigger and faster," said Bosworth, who will attend Harvard in the fall and plans to play soccer. "You have to step it up."
"It's not that much different," countered Macchi. "But everyone is good, and the game's just that much faster."
Macchi was up to the challenge, though. The Willow Glen quarterback led the South offense by hooking up on 8-of-13 passes for 71 yards and the one touchdown. Jimenez completed 4-of-9 tosses for 37 yards in the win.
Wiens, Ramon Payne (Gunderson), Brian Davis (Pioneer) and Wilson caught two passes each in the win and Kevin Ernst (Leland), Kellen Taylor (Oak Grove), Clay Minier (Hill) and Eric Mukuno (Piedmont Hills) snagged one each.
Jose Mendoza (Live Oak) led the ground attack with 32 yards on 10 carries. Wiens had just one carry, but his 10-yard run set up the South's first touchdown.
Andy Heiser (Santa Clara) starred for the North offense, hitting on 6-of-11 passes for 65 yards and carrying nine times for 27 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown run. Matt Fratus (Lynbrook) completed his only pass for three yards.
Ben Winkelman (Los Gatos), John Burke (Santa Clara) and Matt Lemos (St. Francis) caught two passes each for the North, and Rex Finato (Gunn) grabbed one.
Big 6-foot-6, 240-pound Jared Allen of Los Gatos was the defensive star of the night. The powerful defensive end led all tacklers in the game with nine stops, including three in the South backfield. He also deflected a pass, rushed the quarterback into an errant throw and sacked the QB.
The sack came in the second period and accounted for the first North score of the night. Allen chased Jimenez into the end zone and hauled him down from behind for a safety with 7:59 left in the half.
Jeff Berger (Del Mar) and Brian McClenahan (St. Francis) were in on seven tackles apiece and Kyle Kingsbury (Monta Vista), Braden Spencer-Albert (St. Francis) and Mike Serena (Milpitas) got in on five each. Heling and Mark Baylon (Santa Clara) were in on four tackles apiece for the North and Kelly Matthew (Saratoga) was in on three.
Masten had a pass deflection and a tackle to go with his diving interception, and David Toomey (Mitty), John Lozano (Monta Vista) and Rory McMilton (St. Lawrence) were also in on tackles.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
