San Jose – It was an all-star game by name, even if it wasn’t evident by the quality of play.
With penalties, shoving matches and offensive struggles leading the way, the North finally scored the game’s only touchdown with 1:19 left to earn a 7-3 victory in the 32nd Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football game Wednesday at San Jose City College.
Until the late score by the North – a 15-yard pass from St. Francis’ Rich Scudellari to Westmont’s Chantz Staden on an apparent broken play – the game had been marred by struggles from the outset, with the South failing to pick up the opening kick off and the North recovering.
But several mistakes by both team prevented scoring opportunities and neither team reached the end zone in the first half.
“Just a lot of mental mistakes put us behind a bit,” said Live Oak offensive lineman Jason Romero, who represented the South team.
Valley Christian’s Ben Hansen provided the game’s only scoring in the first two quarters when he booted a 22-yard field goal.
Live Oak’s Dustin Muhn was a big part of the South team’s best scoring chance. He broke off a 25-yard run to reach the 5-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
“It was pretty relieving after trying to be real patient,” Muhn said. “With everybody being all-stars, it’s tough to get everybody the reps.”
But the North’s defense stiffened up and stuffed Shaun Souza of Pioneer on a fourth down run to keep the South out of the end zone.
Gilroy’s Bobby Best, who had minor surgery to remove a cyst on the back of his neck last week, was healed up enough to play in the game and enjoyed the experience.
“The back of my neck wasn’t hurting me too much,” Best said. “It’s just fun going out for one last game of high school football.”
The atmosphere was definitely intense from the beginning, with players from both sides exchanging words and blows early and often.
“It was just because we’re different teams from different areas and different schools,” said Valley Christian fullback and Morgan Hill native Travis Nilmeyer. “The thing that makes it tough is that they got ahead of us with one minute left and that’s the only time they got ahead of us.”
Live Oak’s Nathan Goldie saw plenty of time both at linebacker and at fullback in a three-back set and had fun mixing it up with some quality players.
“It’s always going to be fun playing in an all-star game, playing with the best of the best, competing with the best of the best,” Goldie said. “I’m kind of bummed we lost, but what can you do. They played better in the fourth quarter.”
