LOS GATOS — The forty eighth version of the Charlie Wedemeyer Santa Clara County all-star soccer recreation was the epitome of a defensive battle.
In a recreation drenched by rain, beset by partitions of wind that knocked again punts for unfavourable yardage, and which featured extra fumbles than accomplished passes, Xavier Catano’s landing reception felt prefer it was value excess of six factors on Saturday evening.
The Dwell Oak participant someway dealt with the quick pitch from Lincoln-San Jose quarterback Tayden Philips, reduce upfield with out slipping, adopted his blocks, and broke the airplane for the one landing with 11:55 left within the second quarter of the South’s 9-0 win over the North.
“I believe it was simply meant for me and I needed to push that by means of, and we got here out with the landing,” Catano mentioned about his three-yard run throughout the aim line. “We had it sinking in that it was our final recreation.”
Regardless of the depressing climate, tons of got here out to Los Gatos Excessive — the place Wedemeyer coached for years — to help the seniors from Santa Clara County faculties.
After being recognized with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (generally known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s illness) in 1977, Wedemeyer battled the illness for 32 years earlier than he died in 2010.
Proceeds from the sport have been donated to the ALS Basis and Coaches In opposition to Most cancers.
The sport was historically performed in the summertime however was moved to winter in 2020. The one 12 months it has not been performed since its inception was 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The South now holds a 25-19-4 lead within the sequence.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the sport:
DEFENSE RULES THE DAY
In a recreation that noticed the primary 5 possessions finish in a punt, consecutive misplaced fumbles, a missed area aim and a unfavourable three-yard punt, it grew to become obvious pretty early on that protection was going to play a starring function within the recreation.
On one play, Del Mar’s Josh Villareal sacked the quarterback. Within the second half, South defensive again Josh Reyes of Santa Teresa knocked away a cross that appeared destined for a 30-yard completion. On certainly one of many particular groups performs, Pioneer’s Ryan Given blocked a punt.
Among the many finest defenders on the South group was Overfelt linebacker Quinton Togia’i, who persistently plugged holes within the run recreation.
One of many largest performs of Togia’i’s evening got here late within the first quarter when he tackled a North ballcarrier for a loss on second-and-short.
After the third-down play went nowhere, the North’s punt went backward and arrange the South’s five-play, 14-yard landing drive.
As soon as Christopher kicker Alan Canales nailed a 22-yard area aim to make it 9-0 halfway by means of the second interval, Togia’i and his teammates’ confidence was excessive, together with his opponent finishing solely three passes for 14 yards all evening.
If there’s any stat that epitomizes the stranglehold protection had on the sport, it’s this one:
There have been 5 possessions that started and ended within the third quarter. There have been extra punts (4) than yards gained (negative-25).
“We have been simply having enjoyable,” Togia’i mentioned.
After Catano’s landing, neither group had a drive longer than seven performs and 25 yards. The longest play was the weaving 27-yard scramble by Nate Escalada, a Bellarmine quarterback, that bought the ball to the five-yard line and arrange Canales’ kick. Neither group bought contained in the opposing 30-yard line within the second half.
CHARLIE’S LEGACY AT LOS GATOS
Throughout pregame introductions, Charlie’s spouse Lucy Wedemeyer greeted every of the sport’s 87 gamers at midfield. She, together with former Los Gatos star and NFL linebacker Kiko Alonso and 49ers legend Ronnie Lott, had spoken to the gamers at a banquet earlier within the week about her late husband and what the game meant to Charlie.
“Charlie didn’t hand over, and that’s such a good looking lesson for these children,” Lucy Wedemeyer mentioned. “We have been blessed to have Ronnie Lott communicate at our occasion the opposite evening, and he imparted a lot of that knowledge to those younger males about their future and what they signify.”
For Los Gatos’ gamers, they wanted no such introduction to who the legendary coach was. A long time after he coached his final varsity recreation, Wedemeyer’s legacy nonetheless looms giant over this system.
“From our freshman 12 months, we study Charlie and his story,” Los Gatos offensive lineman Will Cohen mentioned. “To be invited out to play, it’s simply really an honor.”
That respect for the late Wedemeyer is due largely to Mark Krail, the present Los Gatos soccer coach who has made it his mission to verify the person isn't forgotten on the faculty.
“We’re simply attempting to uphold his custom, his fame,” Krail mentioned. “Our guys at Los Gatos see his title each single day, and his title is essential to our program. ”
MITTY’S MIRACLE MEN ENJOY ONE MORE MOMENT
Few groups in Central Coast Part historical past engineered the type of one-year turnaround Archbishop Mitty loved in 2022.
After eking out a single win throughout the 2021 spring and fall seasons, the Monarchs went 9-4 and received two time beyond regulation video games within the CCS playoffs earlier than bowing out to Serra within the Division I championship.
Mitty had six gamers swimsuit up for the Wedemeyer all-star recreation.
Quarterback Wills Towers and receiver Ben Kim couldn’t fairly recreate their passing connection within the torrential rain and gusting winds at Los Gatos, with the pair unable to finish a cross on the North all-stars.
However regardless that the duo didn't group up for yet another landing, the 2 pals nonetheless loved having a last alternative to share the sphere with each other.
“Oh man, it was enjoyable, it was particular,” Kim mentioned whereas smiling from ear to ear. “Clearly the circumstances weren’t nice, and we didn’t cross a lot, however attending to expertise this with him was superb. So I’m grateful.”
Though Towers nor his 5 different highschool teammates on the recreation studied at Los Gatos, the magnitude of the invite was not misplaced on the younger man.
“I used to be so honored after I was chosen,” Towers mentioned. “I appeared into his story, and , it’s so inspiring. I felt honored to be on this area and play underneath his title.”
HOW TO PLAY IN THE RAIN
Though just a few followers within the stands grinned and celebrated the concept of enjoying a recreation “in actual soccer climate,” the distinctive circumstances made even essentially the most routine actions appear dangerous and turned the sport right into a sluggish battle for area place.
Whereas his teammates (and opponents) struggled to carry onto the ball, Catano’s landing was in some ways the byproduct of some fast considering.
“I needed to maintain my gloves dry,” Catano mentioned whereas gesturing with each gloved-up arms stretched out. “I bought my towel out right here too, however now it’s soaking moist.”
A slew of proficient runners, together with however not restricted to Lincoln-San Jose’s Sal Espinosa, Westmont’s Jacob Lang, Dwell Oak’s Jordan Fuentes and Mt. Nice’s Skyden Shugen needed to battle for each yard they gained.
As offenses slogged by means of the waterlogged circumstances, the defensive gamers thrived.
“It was simply enjoyable, like being a child once more and enjoying at recess,” Togia’i mentioned.
Lucy Wedemeyer mentioned she couldn't recall rain being part of any of the opposite earlier editions of the Wedemeyer all-star recreation.
EXTRACURRICULARS
Halftime noticed cheerleading and dance routines adopted by a particular announcement by Krail.
He and Lucy Wedemeyer awarded three excellent seniors with awards.
Krail’s Los Gatos working again Emiliano Mejia acquired the “Past Extraordinary” award.
Subsequent up was Phillips, who was honored with the “Charlie Wedemeyer By no means Give Up” award.
Lastly, Given from Pioneer acquired the “Distinctive Spirit” award.
Wedemeyer Traditional: South 9, North 0
