On June 14 at Golden Valley High School, the top senior football players from across Merced County came together for one final game under the lights at the annual Merced County Lions All-Star Game, sponsored by the Merced Lions Breakfast Club.
In a game between the North and South teams, it was the latter that came out on top, winning 19–13.
The schools featured from the north side were Atwater, Delhi, Los Banos, Hilmar, Patterson, Pitman, Denair, Buhach Colony, Livingston, Pacheco, San Augustine, Orestimba and Turlock.
Dos Palos, Golden Valley, Merced, Sonora, Chowchilla, Madera South, Summerville, El Capitan, Le Grand, Stone Ridge Christian, Mariposa, Madera and Matilda Torres were on the south side.
The North started fast. After forcing a turnover on downs to start the game, Jacob Valenzuela from Orestimba connected with his teammate, Dylan McCauley, also from Orestimba, on a 40-yard touchdown pass. The North took an early 7–0 lead.
The South answered quickly, as Merced quarterback Quintell Dupree led a 12-play drive that led to a touchdown. However, a missed extra point left the North still ahead by 7–6.
From there, both defenses took control. Neither team scored again until late in the fourth quarter. That’s when Dupree found his familiar target from Merced, Julian Higareda, for a big 53-yard touchdown, giving the South a 12–7 lead.
With just over a minute left, the North tried to push for a comeback, but Valenzuela was sacked and fumbled. Amani Sua from Matilda Torres High School scooped up the ball and ran 50 yards for a touchdown, making it 19–7.
Still, the North didn’t give up. Valenzuela connected with Turlock’s Junior Silva, who had five catches for 98 yards, including a 38-yard gain to reach the red zone. With just five seconds left, Valenzuela threw his second touchdown to McCauley, cutting the score to 19–13.
The South came away with the victory and celebrated its win. McCauley won player of the game for the South, and Sua won for the North.
