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Cougar Trio Named To Lions All-Star Squad
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Three players from the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship football Cougars will suit up for the annual Lions All-Star football game in June.

Running back Jesse Miguel, 5-7, 160 pounds; defensive end Jon Norton, 6-1, 185; and linebacker Nate Williamson, 6-2, 230 have all been named to the North Team for the June 26 competition at University of the Pacific in Stockton.

The three Escalon seniors were keys in the championship run during the 2003 football campaign, which culminated with a Dec. 6 victory over Hilmar at UOP, 21-20.

"I felt we had five or six kids that ranked high enough to make the team but you can only have three," noted Escalon head coach Mark Loureiro. "I really feel these three kids will make an impact on this game, they'll represent us well and I'm excited to see it, myself."

Head coach for the North team this year is Rick Davis of Argonaut High School in Jackson. He led his team to a 9-3 mark, winning the Mother Lode League before falling to Escalon in the second round of the playoffs.

Players and coaches for both the North and the South teams gathered for a kickoff banquet on Saturday, April 24 and work will soon begin preparing the teams for the competition.

This marks the 31st year for the Lions Central California Al-Star football game and last year, the North team was a decisive 40-7 winner. The game traditionally draws thousands of fans.

Kickoff for the Saturday, June 26 game will be at 5 p.m.

Leading the South team as head coach is Tom Tyler of Turlock High School. Local players named to the South squad include outside linebacker Shane Cole, defensive lineman Paul LaMantia, safety Jason Norwood, all of Oakdale, and quarterback Chris Bigelow of Riverbank.