Three student-athletes were on hand to represent Escalon during the annual Lions Club All-Star Game, with two flag football players and one football player suiting up for the North teams.
A fourth Escalon player selected was unable to attend due to illness.
For the boys football team, Escalon varsity head coach Andrew Beam had the honor of serving as head coach for the North squad and they prevailed with a 34-14 win over the South.
The flag football team for the North was also a winner in the first-ever flag football All-Star contest, easily outdistancing the South squad, 44-6.
Lorenzo Teixeira took the field for the North football team; fellow Cougar Logan Huebner was also selected and was expected to start at quarterback but fell ill and was not able to play.
For the flag football team, standout Lady Cougars Jasmine Barron and Reagan Baker were part of the historic All-Star victory.
The games were hosted in Wayne Schneider Stadium at Tracy High School on Saturday, June 20, with flag football starting off the festivities at 5 p.m., followed by the boys football game at 7 p.m.
The North team for each contest featured players primarily from Escalon, Stockton area schools and the Mother Lode; South teams were made up of players from Modesto to Merced.
With Beam serving as head coach for football, all the practices for the North All Star squad were held at Escalon.
“Monday through Friday we practiced at EHS from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and every night a different Lions Club would feed our athletes and coaches,” Beam said of the week leading up to the Saturday game.
Linden, Clements, Escalon, Stockton and Manteca clubs all took a turn providing the meal.
As far as the game itself, Beam said they dealt with some adversity but found a way to get the victory.
“Defense got an opening drive and fourth and goal stop, the offense drove down the field and settled for a field goal,” he explained. “On the second drive of the game, our Amador QB, the only other quarterback we had, broke his ankle on a fluke tackle. We played the rest of the way with Mason Eagal from St. Mary’s, who never took a snap for the Rams and was playing safety for us.”
The North had a 17-7 lead at the half and both sides added more points in the second half, with the North winning, 34-14.
Eagal was the MVP for the game, with Cash Byington of Sonora selected as the offensive MVP.
“Coach Hoover called the defense, Coaches Kimble and Cowan were the offensive coordinators,” Beam said of his varsity staff members that assisted in the contest.
For the inaugural flag football game for the girls, the North took a 30-6 halftime lead and kept the pressure on, as they put 14 more points on the board in the second half and didn’t allow any more to the South, ultimately winning the game by a 44-6 final.
