SAN JOSE -- A highly energetic North squad was dominant right from the opening kickoff en route to a 37-3 victory at the 40th annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game Wednesday night at San Jose City College.
Keenan Smith of Santa Clara High put the North on the board with a nine-yard carry at the 8:19 mark of the first quarter to cap off a 12-play, 83-yard opening drive.
“It felt good. It got us started. It got the 37-3 victory started, and we just kept going from there,” said Smith.
After forcing the South to go three-and-out, Mark DeRobertis of Westmont took over for the North. Following an 11-yard run to open the drive, DeRobertis bolted 31 yards to the house to make it 14-0 midway through the first quarter.
The second quarter was just like the first, with Alex Andrighetto of St. Francis tacking on to the lead with a 10-yard touchdown run at the 7:32 mark. Luke Vereschagin (King’s Academy) booted a 20 yard field goal with four minutes to go, and Saratoga teammates Jonathan Walters (quarterback) and Grant Faylor (receiver) connected for a 44-yard touchdown pass with two minutes left, making it 31-0 at the half.
Vereschagin continued to kick well in the second half, putting two efforts through the uprights from distances of 35 and 37 yards away.
“I love my team; they have been working hard out here,” said Vereschagin. “It’s been great getting ready for this game. I had a good game today and I’m really looking forward to the future.”
Christopher Lanman of Los Altos led the air attack of the North team, completing 3-of-7 passes for 99 yards, the most yardage of the four quarterbacks in the rotation (Ronnie Reed – Milpitas, Ricky Te’o – Fremont, Walters – Saratoga).
The North’s defense also did a phenomenal job stopping the South, causing two fumbles, stopping the North on downs on another occasion and holding its opponents to one score: a 26-yard field goal from Bellarmine’s Grant Bush with 6:03 left in the third quarter. The South only had 84 yards rushing and 134 yards through the air.
“It's them believing in themselves and believing in the scheme more than anything,” said North coach Trevor Pruitt (Los Altos). “They have great players, we have great players, and it’s that one small wrinkle you have to get over to have a game like this.”
South coach Tim Pierleoni (Christopher-Gilroy) was not as fortunate, and having to fight through numerous penalties did not help.
“They had a very physical, strong team. It was hard for us to get anything going and then when we did get something going there was a penalty and that kills you," Pierleoni said. "But sometimes it happens that way and you just have to deal with it."
The victory is the second in a row for the North, which won 17-6 in 2013. It was also a nice ending to the high school careers of some of the players, and the entire football career of others.
“I am so proud of these guys and how they played," Pruitt said. "I had a great time out there and was grateful to be a part of it.”
