Nine standouts from five area schools will play for East Union head coach Willie Herrera and the North team in the 44th annual Central California Lions All-Star Football Game next Saturday, June 17 at Tracy High’s Wayne Schneider Stadium.
Gates will open at 5 p.m. and pre-game festivities begin at 6 with kickoff set for 7.
Herrera will lead a contingent of players from San Joaquin County and the Sierra Foothills. The South, coached by Dustin Caropreso of Los Banos, will feature players from Stanislaus and Merced counties. The South prevailed 28-20 last year and has won three of the last four, but trail the series, 24-17-2.
Herrera will have four Lancers with him next week, including third-year quarterback Jack Weaver (1,183 yards, 14 TDs passing; 504 yards, seven TDs rushing). He’s heading to College of Idaho. Weaver’s top receiver, Jake Harries (482 yards, five TDs), linebacker Joseph Reynaga (88 tackles) and lineman Andy Parcells were other key players who helped East Union finish 6-5 and reach the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the first time since 2010.
Kameron Beamon rushed for 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns for Manteca’s Valley Oak League and Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship team last fall and will join his cross-town rivals on the North.
Lathrop (4-6) and Weston Ranch (4-6) each has one all-star in running back/linebacker Tremayne Willis Jr. (605 yards, six TDs; 10 sacks) and running back/linebacker Andrew Farley, respectively.
Linebacker Bryce Kinsey and safety Luis Candido will represent Trans-Valley League runner-up Ripon (6-5). Kinsey was named All-TVL Defensive Player of the Year after racking up an area-high 179 tackles, while Candido (three interceptions) was Outstanding Defensive Back.
The North will be bolstered by impressive athletes from Stockton schools. St. Mary’s quarterback Jake Dunniway is the first Lions All-Star to have thrown for more than 4,000 yards in his senior season. He helped the Rams reach the CIF State Division I Bowl Game and passed for 4,066 yards and 46 touchdowns. Among his receivers will be Idaho-bound Cutrell Haywood from Stagg. Haywood accumulated 1,644 yards and 22 touchdowns last year, the most ever from a Lions All-Star.