LEADING THE WAY: San Clemente's Brad Curtis will try to guide the South to a victory in Friday's all-star football game at Orange Coast College. ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER FILE PHOTO ALL-STAR GAME AT A GLANCEBrea Lions Orange County North-South Prep All-Star Football Game Friday, 7:15 p.m., Orange Coast College (Gates open at 6 p.m.) Tickets: $10 On the Web: OCVarsity.com will carry a live blog from the game beginning at 7 p.m. TV: ESPNU will televise the game July 26 (6 p.m.) and July 28 (1 p.m.) For more information: 714-524-3335 |
O.C. All-Star Football Game has makings of a memorable battle
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The North might have a slight edge in the annual summer showcase at Orange Coast College.
Media members were polled for their prediction of the outcome for tonight's Orange County football all-star game. The consensus: The North over the South, by three points.
A result that close could be in store for the Brea Lions Orange County North-South Prep All-Star Football Game on Friday at 7:15 p.m. at Orange Coast College.
The North has a slight lead in the series, 24-21-3. Even closer is the cumulative scoring of those 48 games: North 724, South 722.
The game, for graduated seniors, features 22 All-Orange County players, 14 on the North and eight on the South, and a couple of Southern California players of the year.
North defensive lineman Anthony Laurenzi of El Dorado was the 2007 county defensive player of the year and was CIF-Southern Section Southwest Division defensive player of the year. North defensive back Raphael Huizar of Pacifica was Southern Division defensive player of the year.
Both rosters have numerous players who will continue playing football in college, including two on their way to UCLA: North offensive lineman Austin Hill of Los Alamitos and South wide receiver Carlo Valdes of Mater Dei.
The North and South teams each had 10 practices, the maximum allowed by all-star game rules. North coach Brent McKee of Canyon and South coach Jason Negro of Trabuco Hills, both working with their own coaching staffs, first implemented the basic offensive and defensive systems they run at their schools. They made adjustments as the game approached.
“We had a game plan going into the first practice,” Negro said, “based on the talent we picked and what we do offensively. So we started with our base offense and then defense, then last Thursday we started putting in some new stuff. On Sunday, the coaches met and we added some things and cut out other things based on what our kids did well.
“I think,” he continued, “we had the idea we would run the ball more, but now we've seen that our kids on the line are better at pass-protect than run-protect. So, we might throw the ball more.”
The North has experienced a similar metamorphosis in the weeks leading to the game. McKee had envisioned a vertical passing game. But pass-protection does not seem to be a strength of the North offensive line, and the South's defensive line is a speedy one.
“If we can't block those guys,” McKee said, “it won't matter how many receiver routes we have.”
The North's passing game thus could be limited to three-step drops by the quarterback and quick, short passes to the receivers. As for running the football …
“Traditionally,” McKee said, “it's hard to run in these all-star games for whatever reason. I told our three running backs (Jason Davis of La Habra, Wes Fletcher of Valencia and Ray Holley of El Modena) that they're going to have to fight for their yards.”
Game revenue benefits several charities, including the PADRE Foundation, Western Youth Services, and the Orange County Youth Foundation.
The North won last year's game, 22-10.
ESPNU will televise taped coverage of the game on July 26 at 6 p.m. and July 28 at 1 p.m.
• Full coverage at O.C. All-Star Game Insider
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
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