When the South 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 looking to extend its overall series lead over the North, and will do so while being led by a handful of dynamic athletes who can contribute all over the field.
Last year’s starting quarterback for Westmont, Cameron Rottler, might best exemplify the talent which will be on the field for the South, which is guided by Warriors’ coach Mark Kaanapu. The 2017 Mount Hamilton Offensive Player of the Year at quarterback was also a first-team All-CCS pick as a utility player after completing 66 percent of his passes for 1,903 yards and 27 touchdowns, while rushing for another 608 yards. Rottler should also help in the kicking game, after placing 32 of 37 kickoffs in the end zone last fall, and drilling five of seven field goal attempts.
Rottler will have a deep cast of running backs to work with, including Branham’s Nolan Gallagher, Live Oak’s Cole Davis, and Los Gatos’ Will Fordyce. Gallagher was a third-team All-CCS selection as a running back, while Davis can produce on either side of the ball, and was a third-team All-CCS pick as a defensive back. Tanner Scattini, who played quarterback for Branham, will also see reps behind center for the South.
Westmont has four players on the South roster, the most of any school, with Rottler being joined by linemen Matt Khani and Carter Horwitz, and receiver Casey Horwitz. Other targets in the passing game for the South will include Saratoga’s Harrison Fong, Live Oak’s Jaime Martinez, and Willow Glen’s Connell Ryans, all three of whom were third-team All-CCS selections for the 2017 season. Fong was one of the most prolific receivers in the section, stat-wise, with 80 catches for 1,049 yards and eight touchdowns, while also averaging over 14 points per game in basketball season. Ryans was named MVP of the BVAL-Santa Teresa this past season.
Branham, Los Gatos, Saratoga, and Live Oak each have three players on the 38-man roster, which features 20 different schools. Meanwhile, Christopher and Gilroy each have two players on the roster, as the four players from the Garlic Capital who all won section titles last year will try to cap their high school careers with a victory in the Wedemeyer.
That four-player delegation includes a pair of standout defensive players, Christopher linebacker Payton Mitchell and Gilroy defensive end Andrew Castro. Both were named to the All-CCS second-team this past fall, after Castro racked up 86 tackles and 14 sacks and was the MBL-Pacific Defensive Lineman of the Year, while Mitchell was the MBL-Pacific Defensive Player of the Year with 133 tackles, including 12 stops in the Cougars’ Division IV title game victory.
Prospect, Leland, and Mitty also have multiple players on the roster, including standout Monarchs’ cornerback Lemuel Marucot, whose 6-foot-1 frame has been known to shut down his side of the field.
Other notable players on the roster include Prospect offensive lineman David Lei, the Most Valuable Lineman in the BVAL-West Valley last season, Leigh defensive lineman Tevita Pahulu, the Most Valuable Defensive Lineman in the Mount Hamilton last fall who also made CCS finals in the shot put, and a pair of undersized yet dynamic athletes – Willow Glen’s Waking Bailey and Live Oak’s Josue Rodriguez. Despite standing just 5-foot-7, Rodriguez was the Mount Hamilton’s Most Outstanding Linebacker in 2017, while the 5-foot-6 Bailey was the Santa Teresa’s Most Outstanding Utility Player.
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.
