North-South All-Star Game should be a high-scoring affair

What does no scouting plus limited time with new players equal? The coaches of Friday’s Brea Lions Club O.C. All-Star Football Game at Orange Coast College have a shared theory:

Offense.

“This is not an All-Star game where you can blitz and do all that stuff,” South coach Rick Gibson of Woodbridge High said. “It's definitely geared for the offense to succeed. I think some people will look at it and go, 'Wow, they are not doing a whole lot.' Well, really we can't.”

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Click here to find stories and slideshows leading up to the North-South All-Star game.

North coach Dusan Ancich of Villa Park High called the opposing offense “a complete unknown.”

Familiarity isn’t a concern with their own offenses, of course, especially for a North squad led by Spartans quarterback Blair Boyce, tailback Nick Privitelli and fullback Jonny Semaan.

“It’s a big deal,” Ancich said. “Blair’s a guy I have been with four years. We have three of our guys on offense. That really speeds up the process.”

The South doesn’t have the same luxury at quarterback, though many believe it has the advantage on paper in terms of overall talent.

“For both Chase (Favreau of Edison) and Ricky (Bautista of Northwood) to grasp the offense and run it, that's going to be a challenge for us,” Gibson said. “They've done it in practice, but again in the heat of battle how does that translate? I'm excited because they're both have tremendous upside athletically, accuracy and strength.”

Ancich is also curious to see who on his team will respond to pressure.

“I want to see who’s going to make that big play when we need it,” Ancich said. “See who the gamers are. Who wants the ball when it counts?”

Kickoff is at 7:15 p.m. and gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $11. The game is the Cox/3 game of the week and will air Friday at 11:30 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., Monday at 8 p.m. and Tuesday at 8 p.m.