TRACY — Former Sierra Quarterback Zak Willson racked up MVP honors while leading five other area standouts and the North team to a 42-37 victory over the South in the 49th Annual Central California Lions All-Star Football Game at Wayne Schneider Stadium on Saturday.

The North had lost five of the previous six but leads all-time, 26-19-2.

“This whole week has really made me re-evaluate where my head is at when it comes to my future,” Willson said. “It was great getting back out there and competing with these guys, and I can’t thank the coaches enough for preparing us to go out there and end this losing streak for the North.”

Willson completed passes to five different receivers in the game, including one to his primary target at Sierra. Tali Vaipuna, headed to College of San Mateo, caught two passes for 15 yards for the North.

“I was proud to represent Sierra alongside Zak and get the win one last time,” Vaipuna said. “I felt like the chemistry all week on the team was really good, and it feels good to get a win for the North.”

The North team ran the ball for 149 yards on the night, with a lot of the holes being opened up by former Manteca offensive tackle Tomasi Sovatabua, who garnered Valley Oak League lineman of the year honors leading a potent Manteca rushing attack in 2024.

“This was some of the most fun I have had playing football this week,” Sovatabua said. “Got to meet some new people make some new friends. I knew coming into this week that it was going to be my last time playing, and I was going to leave it out on the field, so to end with a win just makes it that much sweeter.”

Defensively, the North team was led all week by former Manteca middle linebacker Ruben Moreno, who was coming off of a massive 2024 campaign in which he was named VOL Co-Outstanding Defensive Player. Moreno’s performance in practice all week as well as in the game helped him be named the North’s Most Inspirational Player after the victory. He will continue his college career at Modesto Junior College in the fall.

“Having my team choose me to win this award means everything to me,” Moreno said. “We came into this game with everyone telling us we were the underdogs, and knew it was going to be a fight. I wanted to set the tone in practice that we were going to come out here and get this title back for the North.”

Manteca’s presence on defense for the North was felt at multiple levels, with four-year starter and 2023 VOL Outstanding Defensive Player Isaiah White dominating South offensive lineman to the tune of six tackles and one pass deflection in the game. White will look to continue his success playing in front of Moreno at MJC.

“This whole week was a rush,” White said. “I feel like top to bottom the roster treated this game like it was as important as any other and we came out here and played our hearts out. There was no question that we wanted this game, and we went out there and showed it.”

Lathrop’s 2024 Western Athletic Conference title winning defense was led by defensive lineman Sean-Kingston Teu, who wreaked havoc on the South’s offense like he did for much of the 2024 run to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V semifinals for Lathrop. Teu was credited with four tackles in the game, helping the North slow down the South just enough to get the victory. Teu will join his North teammates from Manteca at MJC in the fall.

“Honestly, it was just great to get out here and compete with guys who are at the highest level in our area,” Teu said. “We went to work in practice and set out with a goal and we were able to achieve it.”

The game was dedicated to the memory of Wayne Thallander, a former coach and teacher at Tracy High who died last August. The Manteca resident coached girls basketball at Tracy, later serving as an assistant at Sierra and most recently Lathrop. He also shared his talents as a photographer with publications in the region, including the Bulletin.

A banner and plaque were presented to friends and family of Thallander’s at halftime of the event. Included in the ceremony were longtime friend and former Lathrop High principal Greg Leland and his wife Debbie.