When the North All-Star team hits the field this Wednesday night in the 44th Annual Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Game at Los Gatos High School, it will be doing so with a diverse and explosive roster, one which looks to chip away at the South’s current five-game advantage in the overall series.
Both quarterbacks on the North roster, Wilcox’s David Hernandez and Lincoln’s Gavin Kalama-Florence, are generally considered to be most effective as runners. Hernandez was easily one of the top running quarterbacks in the CCS this past fall, being named the SCVAL-De Anza Offensive Player of the Year after running for 1,297 yards and 23 touchdowns, after which he was also named second-team All-CCS as a utility player. He should be able to also make an impact in the passing game, however, considering the cast of pass-catchers at his disposal.
Fremont’s Rodney Chand, a first-team All-CCS selection this past fall after racking up 60 catches for 1,067 yards and 18 touchdowns, is part of a deep and talented cast offensively for the North. 6-foot-2 Tyler Farnham of The King’s Academy is not only a sizable target, but also was regarded as one of the top route-runners in the section. Meanwhile, Los Altos tight end Vincent Colodny is one of the rare Division I-bound athletes in the game, headed to play for Colorado in the fall.
Of course, with Hernandez at the disposal of North head coach Carlo Maningo (Overfelt), the running game should not be overlooked. Hernandez will be joined in the backfield by a pair of 1,000-yard rushers from last year - explosive Santa Clara back Erik Ketton, a third-team All-CCS pick who ran for nearly 1,500 yards last season, and Overfelt’s DeVaughn Johnson, who ran for nearly 1,100 yards and 15 scores.
Lincoln’s Matt Troxell, Wilcox’s Manny Sandoval, and Saint Francis’ Alex Waddell figure to all be key cogs on the offensive line for the North squad.
Maningo’s cast of players also figures to be deep defensively, starting with a group up front that includes first-team All-SCVAL selection Una Kaufusi of Mountain View and Overfelt’s JonMae Wafford, the West Valley Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. Wilcox’s Michael Dinwiddie anchors a deep cast of linebackers, while defensive backs DJ Barnes (Gunn) and Joey Bond-Davidson (Homestead) are both multi-talented players on both sides of the ball.
Overfelt and Lincoln each have a total of four players on the North roster, while Santa Clara, Wilcox, King’s Academy, Mountain View, and Independence have three players each.
After being held at Levis Stadium, the game is back at a high school location, taking place at Los Gatos. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at the Youth Classic site, for a discounted price, or at the gate. Advance tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for anyone under the age of 18. Tickets at the gate are $25 for adults and $20 for anyone under the age of 18. The All-Star Game continues to be sponsored by the Rotary Club of Almaden Valley.
Last year’s game ended in a 13-13 tie. The South leads the overall series, 22-17, with four ties.
