TRACY — The North went toe to toe early on with the South on Saturday night but the North ended up with some tough sledding, as the South scored the game’s final 31 points in a 38-13 South win at Tracy High’s Wayne Schneider Stadium. This was the first game since 2019 and the fourth victory for the South in the last five contests.
“It was a fun night,” Cota said. “It was hard fought. I have to give it to the guys on the South, they were really classy and really good. We just fought the whole game.
“It was very special to think that I am on the same caliber as some of these great players out here. Everyone out here has special talents and will probably play football in college.”
Lathrop’s Hector Meza and Manteca’s Dylan Gulseth played on the offensive line for the North, and Lathrop’s Anthony Cuellar
“It was a great experience,” Meza said. “There was a lot of competition, and overall the people here were amazing to play with.”
The North led 13-7 early in the second quarter behind a 65-yard touchdown throw from Kimball’s Jayden Mackey to Edison’s Tyree Owens followed up with a 3-yard scoring run by Edison’s Johnel Pettus. After that, the North was saddled by three interceptions and outstanding offensive play by the South’s Joey Stout from Pitman and Eleazar Garza from Turlock. Stout was named the game’s MVP, and Garza the offensive MVP.
The North did force three turnovers of its own — interceptions by Edison’s Malaki McElvaine and Barry Rhodes and a fumble recovery by Summerville’s Kai Elkins.
The game marked the end of a long and illustrious coaching career for Oakdale’s Trent Merzon, head coach of the South.
“I have been doing this for close to 30 years,” Merzon said. “But football for me has always been a tool in my toolbox, and not my entire toolbox. I am looking forward to the next endeavors of my life which include being a better husband and better father, getting to watch my daughter play softball in the fall and getting to watch high-school football games. I love high-school football. I’m a huge fan, and I can’t wait to find a good game on a Friday night and watch it.
“This game of football has been life-altering for me. It has brought tremendous human beings into my life, it has brought some successes and a lot of disappointment. With all that, it has made me a better man, a better husband and a better father. This game bonds people and brings them together.”
North coach Booker Guyton from Edison in Stockton always wanted to coach against Merzon.
“These are all kids who have busted their butts their senior year and this is their reward,” Guyton said. “Trent Merzon has had a great and stellar career, and I hate that he is giving it up.
“I had hoped to coach against him one day in other than an all-star game, but hey, he had a great career and he is going out in style.”
