Four players from the San Benito High football team were
selected to the 26th annual Salinas Jaycees East-West All-Star
game, scheduled to be held Friday night at Monterey Peninsula
College.
Kick-off is 7 p.m.
Fullback Nick Acosta, wide receiver Andre Cornell, defensive
back Jordan Ashford and linebacker Isaac Ramos Cornejo were chosen
to play in the prep football game. No one from San Benito played in
the game last year.
HOLLISTER
Four players from the San Benito High football team were selected to the 26th annual Salinas Jaycees East-West All-Star game, scheduled to be held Friday night at Monterey Peninsula College.
Kick-off is 7 p.m.
Fullback Nick Acosta, wide receiver Andre Cornell, defensive back Jordan Ashford and linebacker Isaac Ramos Cornejo were chosen to play in the prep football game. No one from San Benito played in the game last year.
“If you’re selected to play, it’s an honor,” said San Benito head coach Chris Cameron, who added that as many as nine Balers were in the initial running to be selected to the All-Star game.
The annual exhibition of talented youth, selected from the 20 teams that account for the three leagues in the greater Monterey Bay area — the Tri County Athletic League, the Monterey Bay League and the Mission Trail Athletic League — is in its 26th year, said Don Chapin, co-chair of the game and director of the Salinas Jaycees.
“We are looking for the most outstanding players and sportsmen,” Chapin said. “We want guys who try the best they can in everything, including studies. We look at there effort and attitudes.”
The players chosen were split up and placed on either the West or East squad, “almost in a draft,” Chapin said, and have been practicing for the past week and a half.
In recent years, the all-star game had fallen upon troubled times due to on-the-field violence and poor sportsmanship.
But new formats, a new venue and a new time — for the second year in a row the game is being played in January instead of June — have since restored stature and integrity.
“For the first time all 20 schools nominated players,” Chapin said. “We had a player and parent meeting and laid out all the rules. This is a big tradition and big honor to be playing in this game. We let them know that if they act up they are out.”
Nineteen of the 20 schools will have players representing their institutions tonight.
The East is headed by coach Norm Silva of King City and have players from, Gilroy, San Benito, Salinas, Gonzales, Soledad, Watsonville, King City, Greenfield, Monta Vista Christian and Monterey.
Palma quarterback’s coach Ron Stefani is in charge of the West and players, who hail from Alisal, Alvarez, Carmel, Palma, North County, Pacific Grove, North Salinas, Pajaro Valley and Seaside.
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Staff writer Josh Weaver contributed to this story.
