Check out these SJ County football players competing in the Lions All-Star game
The long-awaited return of the Central California Lions All-Stars Football Game ends on June 24. The 47th Annual battle of the best in the Sac-Joaquin Section will kick off at 7 p.m. at the Wayne Schneider Stadium in Tracy.
Since the first game in 1974, the North team has been loaded with seniors hailing from San Joaquin County. This year’s squad is no different with skilled players from the San Joaquin Athletic Association, Valley Oak League, Western Athletic Conference and Trans Valley League.
Here are the athletes from the 209 that make up the North team in this year’s all-star game, as well as some of their accolades from last season.
(Players listed in alphabetical order)
Aveon Brown
School: Kimball
Position: Offensive/defensive line
Summary: Standing at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, Brown adds size to the North team. In his final year at Kimball, he played in six games for the Jaguars racking up at least one tackle in each game.
Joshua Chavez
School: Stagg
Position: Tight end/defensive end
Summary: Chavez did it all and then some for the Delta Kings last season. The Lewis and Clark College commit averaged close to eight tackles and around 35 rushing yards per game. As a two-way player, Chavez will play a big role for the North team.
Jared Codde
School: Stagg
Position: Offensive line
Summary: Codde will be adding size to the offensive line standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing around 220 pounds. He was a big man in the trenches for Stagg last season and will look to be the same in the all-star game.
More: Return of All-Stars: Lions All-Star Football Game returns to the 209
Alijah Cota
School: Manteca
Position: Linebacker
Summary: Cota played a crucial role in Manteca’s stellar season that earned it an SJS Division 2 blue banner. As the Buffaloes' shepherd, Cota was the toughest player on the field as a linebacker and running back. He finished the season with seven rushing touchdowns, two interceptions and 54 total tackles.
Joe Cowan
School: Linden
Position: Running back
Summary: Cowan is the fifth Cowan, and second Joe Cowan, to be selected to play in the Lions All-Star game. His father Jim Cowan, cousins Vince Cowan and Joe Cowan, and older brother Michael Cowan were all picked to play during their senior year. Joe Cowan will be a big threat in the backfield after leading the SJAA in rushing yards last year.
Jaiden Crawford
School: Chavez
Position: Defensive line
Summary: Crawford led Chavez’s defense in his final year as a Titan. He averaged a team-high 5.5 tackles and 5.5 sacks per game. The defensive beast will be a big problem for the South’s offense as he caused four fumbles last season. Crawford is the only Chavez player on the North team.
Anthony Cuellar
School: Lathrop
Position: Kicker
Summary: Cuellar is one of two Lathrop athletes playing on the North team and is the team’s only kicker. Last season Cuellar attempted 34 field goals, making 28 of them. His stellar kicking reeled in 31 points for the Spartans. Cuellar also played middle linebacker for Lathrop.
Ronald Green
School: Stagg
Position: Wide receiver/tight end
Summary: The North team’s tall target at the wide receiver spot is Green — who stands at 6-foot-3. For the Delta Kings, he caught for close to 300 yards and had three touchdowns last season. Green can play both sides of the ball as well as special teams.
Dylan Gulseth
School: Manteca
Position: Offensive/defensive line
Summary: Standing at 6-foot-3 and 285 pounds, Gulseth will be another big body in the trenches for the North team. He ended his senior year with eight solo tackles, eight assists, and a total of 16 tackles. He is one of two players representing Manteca in the all-star game.
Christopher Hallon
School: Edison
Position: Defensive back
Summary: Only playing in six games last season, Hallon made every second count. He finished with 31 solo tackles, 16 assists and 47 total tackles. Hallon closed out his time as a Viking averaging the third most sacks per game, three.
Antoine Herrera
School: Weston Ranch
Position: Defensive end
Summary: Herrera is another big body at the defensive end position for the North team. The 6-foot-1 senior will be the only player representing Weston Ranch in this year’s all-star game. Herrera finished his high school career averaging close to three tackles per game and a total of 29 tackles.
Mohamed Kamara
School: Franklin
Position: Tight end/defensive end
Summary: Kamara is the lone Yellowjacket athlete representing Franklin for the North team. In his senior year, the big man was one of Franklin’s bright spots in a forgettable season. He is visibly one of the tallest players on the North team and will add size on both sides of the ball.
Jacob Lanticse
School: Linden
Position: Defensive end/full back
Summary: Lanticse is one of three players on the North team that’ll be representing Linden. In his final year as a Lion, the 6-foot-1 senior was a solid contributor on both sides of the ball. He finished the year rushing for 146 yards and four touchdowns and defensively with 105 total tackles.
Josiah Lockridge
School: Stagg
Position: Defensive line
Summary: Lockridge finished out his high school career playing a key role on Stagg’s defense. He finished last season with seven solo tackles, 28 assists and 35 total tackles. He will look to be a contributor on defense for the North team.
Michael Marsh
School: Linden
Position: Offensive line
Summary: Marsh played for Linden’s varsity squad for three years as an offensive lineman. Standing at 6 feet and weighing in at 220 pounds, he will add more size to the North team’s offensive line.
Malahki McElvaine
School: Edison
Position: Running back
Summary: Edison’s all-around athlete last season was McElvaine. The 5-foot-9 running back could move the changes on offense and make the needed tackles on defense. He finished his senior year averaging 27 yards per game and rushing for two touchdowns.
Jayden McKey
School: Kimball
Position: Quarterback
Summary: McKey was one of the best quarterbacks in the VOL throwing for 2,238 yards in his senior campaign. Along with hitting his targets, McKey isn’t afraid to come out of the pocket as he rushed for over 400 yards last season. He will be one of two quarterbacks playing for the North before heading to the University of the Redlands in the fall.
Hector Meza
School: Lathrop
Position: Offensive line
Summary: Standing at 6-foot-1 and close to 300 pounds, Meza will be like a wall for the North team’s offensive line. The senior played an essential role for the Spartans last season helping them finish third in the WAC.
Zachary McMartin
School: Kimball
Position: Linebacker
Summary: As one of Kimball’s captains last season McMartin led his team on and off the field. On the field, the 6-foot-2 linebacker was a big body that was near impossible to get past. He finished the season with over 100 tackles, the most in the VOL.
Tyree Owens
School: Edison
Position: Wide receiver
Summary: Owens was one of many talented wide receivers for the Vikings last season. The 5-foot-8 senior ended the year with a touchdown and averaged around 27 receiving yards per game. He will round out the North’s receiver core.
Johnel Pettus
School: Edison
Position: Running back
Summary: Edison’s workhorse in the backfield — Pettus — played a big role in its SJAA championship finish. He averaged close to 40 rushing yards per game and 6.4 yards per carry. This stellar offensive display earned Pettus a spot on the All-SJAA first team.
Jerry Raguindin
School: Stagg
Position: Quarterback
Summary: Raguindin proved to be an elite quarterback for Stagg and in the SJS, finishing his senior year ranked 13th in the section for passing yards. He proved he could perform under pressure and put points on the board by throwing 31 touchdowns last year. The Sterling College commit will be a player to watch in the offensive battle between the North and South.
Joseph Robinson
School: Edison
Position: Linebacker/defensive end
Summary: Robinson was an elite defender for Edison in his final season as a Viking. The 6-foot-1 middle linebacker closed out the year with 42 solo tackles, 20 assists and 62 total tackles. He will look to be just as efficient on the field for the North team.
Isaac Salinas
School: Tracy
Position: Wide receiver/defensive back
Summary: Salinas is the lone Tracy football player on the North team’s roster this year. He played two years on the Bulldogs’ varsity squad playing both defense and offense. Salinas ended last season with a total of 370 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, he reeled in 64 total tackles.
Simon Smiley
School: Stagg
Position: Linebacker
Summary: As a four-year varsity player, Smiley is no stranger to tough competition. In his final year as a Delta King, he finished with 83 total tackles and reeled in three sacks. Smiley also played special teams for Stagg and can be useful for the North team there as well.
Samuel Vigil
School: Escalon
Position: Offensive line
Summary: Vigil is the only Escalon football player to be competing in the all-star game and is the only player bringing state championship-level talent. Vigil was a part of the Cougar squad that won an SJS Division 5 blue banner and a CIF State Football Division 4-AA Championship. He will fill out the offensive line for the North team.
Nadar Williams
School: Edison
Position: Defensive end
Summary: Standing at around 5-foot-9 and 130 pounds, Williams is a smaller defensive end for the North team. Despite being smaller, the senior defensive end is a bruiser and can add speed to the North’s defense.
Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: See which SJ County athletes will compete in the Lions All-Star game
