North edges South as the Lions Game returns to Stockton
STOCKTON — Throughout four tightly contested quarters of football Saturday at Lincoln High’s Spanos Stadium, the headlines, highlights and history of the last four seasons came flooding back.
For the North All-Stars, it was a final opportunity for one more triumph.
The North rallied back from a late deficit, beating the South 19-18 at the 46th Central California Lions All-Star Classic. Wayne Schneider MVP award honors went to Lincoln’s Grant Stevenson, the quarterback who threw a pair of touchdown passes in the win.
The game’s most inspirational players were Merced’s Clifford Johnson for the South, and Mountain House’s Vladik Sutherland for the North.
The game was held in Stockton for the first time since 2011, and it was the North’s first win in seven years. The South had gone 5-01 in the previous six.
The North had a handful of statistical stars for the night, with Sutherland scoring the game’s first touchdown in the opening quarter, and Stevenson finding Bear Creek’s Chaz Davis for a game-tying 17-yard reception, knotting the game at 12-12 with 10:23 left to play.
Modesto’s Zaire Eugene rushed across the goal line to put the South up 18-12 late. But on the North’s next possession, Stevenson found Weston Ranch’s Fletcher Pitts Jr., who broke a few tackles and sprinted 39 yards down the sideline for a touchdown with 2:26 to play.
The North’s designated kicker, Calaveras linebacker John Arbuckle, converted the only successful extra-point attempt of the night, and though the South put up one more drive, getting to the North’s 10-yard line, a fieldgoal attempt was blocked by St. Mary’s Jordan Doyle. With that, the North had its longawaited victory.
“It was exhilarating,” said Doyle, who noted he had given up a big play in the third quarter. “I knew in my mind I had to redeem myself, not for me but for my team.
“I had to go after it and get the ball.”
It was the icing on the cake for a roster filled with players who have experienced some of the better moments in the area in recent years.
On the North’s defense, Doyle was a sophomore when the Rams came within three points of a state title in 2016. To represent St. Mary’s in an all-star game was a proud moment, he said.
“For being a part of these runs,” Doyle said, “and to be a part of a good staff, good teammates, brothers, I’m very grateful.”
Joining him was defensive back Elias Escobar of Mountain House who, along with teammates and fellow AllStars Teashaun HodgeMaroney, Keenami Maggard and Sutherland, brought the Mustangs their first playoff appearance this past season.
Sutherland said it was a roller coaster of a career at Mountain House, with certainly more ups lately than downs. To officially end his career like he did Saturday night, Sutherland said, was worth it.
“This was exactly what I’ve been doing it for,” Sutherland said. “I’m super thankful, and I’m proud of my teammates and my coaches.”
On the line, players like Manteca’s Chandler Snyder, who was present for the Buffaloes’ 2017 CIF State Regional Final run, and Edison’s Uso Taamu — who helped the Vikings win their first league title in four decades this year — split time. Lodi’s Kent Powell joined them on the line and as a team captain.
Across the line of scrimmage, wide receiver Keith Smith and tight end Phoenix Smith reprised their Stagg roles as offensive threats. The two were standouts during two straight SJAA-title winning seasons.
The pair had a pair of new, yet familiar faces throwing to them in Stevenson and Chavez High’s Giovanni Gonzalez. The Titans gunslinger had a resurgent senior season, throwing 34 touchdowns against just three interceptions to become one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the section.
Stevenson started the game and Gonzalez swapped in at the beginning of the second quarter. In the second half, though, Stevenson took control of the pocket, despite having sustained a pelvic injury earlier in the contest.
“A lot of teammates brought me up,” Stevenson said. “They said, ‘you can do anything. Just put your mind to it.’
“I just wanted to perform. I wanted to show everybody what I could do.”
Stevenson said that before the North All-Stars broke camp this week, and before they were assigned to dormitories at Pacific, his father offered words of advice for the game ahead.
The new all-star MVP listened.
“My dad said ‘win the MVP. Go out with a bang. Play your heart out and do anything you can to help your team out and win,’” Stevenson said. “I really took that to heart.”