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Miguel shines as Escalon trio plays at Lions
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Jesse Miguel did a little bit of everything on June 26 at the 31st annual Lions All Star Football Game at University of the Pacific's Stagg Stadium.

For his efforts, he was selected Most Valuable Player of the game. His North squad also easily defeated the South, 28-7.

Miguel joined Escalon defensive end Jon Norton and linebacker Nate Williamson on the North squad, and all three were plenty involved in the game. Norton had a big tackle for a loss in the fourth quarter, pinning the South deep in its own end. Williamson, the Trans Valley League's most outstanding defensive player, tallied several tackles.

Miguel, meanwhile, had a hand in the first two North scores. After the South took an early 7-0 lead, Miguel tipped a North pass into the air, and fellow North receiver Roger Brunswick of St. Mary's grabbed it and ran it in for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-all.

Then, after converting a key 4th-and-10 early in the second quarter by catching a pass, Miguel scored on a run from two yards out to give the North the lead at 14-7.

He had already shined offensively, but Miguel knows how to play defense too. In the fourth quarter with the game not yet put away at 21-7, he intercepted a pass thrown by South quarterback Billy Penney of Turlock and returned it quite a way downfield.

As if offense and defense weren't enough, Miguel also chipped in on special teams by kicking all four extra points for the North.

It was the second time in the game's 31-year history that an Escalon player had won MVP honors. David Anderson accomplished the feat in 1995.

Overall, it was quite a day for Escalon. After winning the Section title, Williamson, Miguel and Norton got to end their high school careers over six months later with another win in a little more relaxed atmosphere.