New rivalries form

River Valley High's Josh Hudson throwing slant patterns to Yuba City's Oscar Herrera?

Wheatland's Alex Pinto slapping Sutter's Tyler Morehead on the back for a job well done?

Sights that are unacceptable during the regular football season have become the norm as some of the Mid-Valley's best prepare to take on the North in the 31st annual Lions All-Star Football Game Saturday at Harrison Stadium in Oroville.

This year's game will have a distinct local feel as 18 of the 32 players for the South will be from Mid-Valley area schools.

"We selected our players with defense in mind," said Champion Christian coach Dan Henry, who will guide the South team. "I knew what I wanted at quarterback and we have some depth in the backfield."

The backfield is almost solely comprised of Mid-Valley performers, with Herrera, Wheatland's Andrew McCleary, East Nicolaus'' Alex Daddow and Live Oak's James Fox on tap to carry the ball.

McCleary rushed for 2,028 yards and 17 touchdowns, Fox finished with 1,487 yards and 15 TDs, Daddow amassed 1,468 yards and 16 TDs and Herrera had 1,039 yards and 12 TDs last season.

Add to the mix the fast and elusive Trey Barnes of Oroville, and the South believes it will have a good mix of size and speed.

"We have a bunch of bruisers and a scat back," South offensive coordinator Bob Zedaker said, referring to Barnes as the teams' 'home run hitter.' "We're just going to try and mix it up."

Hudson won't start the game, but will see significant time on the field splitting snaps with Paradise's Jon Hayes.

When the South goes to the air, Hudson and Hayes will no doubt look to find former Lindhurst standout Joey Villasenor, who will get the start at wide receiver.

"I haven't played in a while, so I'm just trying to get back in the groove," said Villasenor, who has played basketball, baseball and track since the Blazers wrapped up the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. VI title back in December. "Hopefully I'll get some passes thrown my way and score a couple of touchdowns."

Pierce's Michael Barber will also see time at split end, while Gridley's Kegan Waite will make the transition from tailback to tight end for the South.

"I've been playing running back since the eighth grade," Waite said. "It's a big change, but it'll work out."

Pinto and Lindhurst's Steven Stanaland will man the right side of the line, at tackle and guard receptively, while Marysville's Tyler Shelgren will start at left tackle and Lindhurst's James Williams will start at left guard.

Live Oak's Ernie Caratachea should see significant time at center, as will Biggs' Andrew Gomez at tackle. Henry said he met with Hudson and Hayes before practices began to see what offense the two quarterbacks preferred and even had them draw up a couple plays of their own.

"We'll use some wishbone and I-backs and we'll pass the ball, but will probably do a little bit more running to control the ball and keep it out of their hands," said Henry, who guided Champion Christian to the Northern Section Div. VI eight-man championship. "We want to be able to control the ball and start pounding it in the second half."

While in the past the North has had the size advantage over the South, this year may be different, as Henry and Zedaker believe they have the size and speed to win.

On the defensive side of the ball, the South will try to keep pace with the high-powered offense of Foothill High coach Byron Hamilton, who led the Cougars to a 12-0 record and the North Section Div. I crown.

"They run a shotgun/fly offense," Henry said. "It's a deceptive, fast high-tempo offense. It's not real complicated — they only run three or four plays — but there's a lot they can do with it."

Henry added that although they run only three or four plays, they run them out of several formations making it difficult for the defense.

Morehead will get the start at defensive end, McCleary, Daddow, Caratachea and Herrera will see time at middle linebacker and Fox and Williams' Diego Velazquez will split time at strong safety.

"We want to look like we've played together for four years," said Henry, noting the importance of team chemistry and camaraderie. "The team that does that usually comes out on top."

The South won last year's game, 45-19, but the North holds a 16-13-1 edge in the series.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Contact sports reporter Andy Arrenquin at 743-0512 or at aarrenquin@appealdemocrat.com