Tulare-Kings All-Star Football Game set for Friday
The saying that familiarity breeds contempt should not apply when the East takes on the West in tonight’s Tulare-Kings All-Star Football Game.
Sure, one could bet that Delano coach Steve Brown, who is coaching the West, and Strathmore High coach Jeromy Blackwell, who is coaching the East, would love nothing better than to beat each other. But the two also have plenty of respect for each other — and plenty of ties to each other as well.
The Orange Belt will well-represented in tonight’s game at 8 p.m. at Bob Mathias Stadium, beginning with Brown and Blackwell. In one way or another, Brown has ties to all three Porterville High Schools and to Strathmore where he helped lead the Spartans to the 1998 Valley title as an assistant coach. And Blackwell said the East team will basically be using Brown’s defense.
“A lot of the things we do defensively are remnants of Steve’s defense,” Blackwell said.
For his part, Brown said the West will use a 3-5-3 defense and a pro-style, spread offense. Both teams have plenty of speed, so tonight’s game could be a wide open affair. “It should be a really good game,” Blackwell said. “For what we lack in size we’ll make up in speed.”
“I think it will be close,” Brown said.
The East has numerous Strathmore and PHS players and Blackwell said the Porterville players are helping to lead the way with their “passion.” “A lot of kids fired up to play football,” said Blackwell about his team.
Brown also likes what he sees. “There’s a good group of kids,” he said.
Among the local players on the East roster are Porterville’s Richie Coppenbarger, Brandon Gonzalez, Jet Shelton, Tre’ Davis, Strathmore’s Mario Lemus, Jaime Magellon, Zack Purdin, Jesse Soria, Juan Rodriguez, Hernan Orozco, Jorge Paz, Dain Madrigal, Granite Hills’ Andrew Lemus and Joesph Coronel and Lindsay’s Jonathan Duarte, Josh Hurtado, Tony Perez and Jason Reeves.
The East will count on the passing of Exeter quarterback Austin Albison and Coppenbarger, who is also a strong safety, will see time at quarterback as well. “I think we’ll be relatively balanced,” Blackwell said.
So of course, the East will run the ball. “At Strathmore that’s what we do,” Blackwell said. Soria and Woodlakes Daniel Rodriguez is expected to lead the running attack.
Among the receivers the receivers that Albison will have to throw to include Farmersville’s Devon Wells. “They’re very fast,” said Blackwell about his receivers.
Blackwell said the offensive line has come along nicely under the direction of Rick Anderson, a long-time Strathmore assistant. Especially impressive has been Exeter’s Dylan Morgan.
“He’s a bonafide football player,” Blackwell said.
Among the leaders on defense have been Gonzalez at linebacker and Redwood strong safety Matt Ramos. “He’s flying around the field,” said Blackwell about Ramos.
Brown said a solid group from Hanford has been leading the way for the West, including quarterback Cannon Sanchez from Hanford. Brown also has his own quarterback in Delano’s Josh Garcia.
“He’s going to be a force,” Brown said.
There’s also Lemoore receiver Jerred Cardoza and Lemoore linebacker Tyrrell Young, who Brown has been impressed with. The running attack wll be led by Dinuba’s James Pelham.
“Heckuva running back,” Brown said. “Great football player.”
Tulare Western receiver Daniel Valdivia is another outstanding athlete, Brown said. Among the leading linemen for the West are Tulare Union’s Paul Perez, 6-6, 285 Beau Felder of Hanford and Noel Gomez and Brandon Tillman of Cesar Chavez. “They’re big-time players,” said Brown about the two Cesar Chavez players. Among the leaders on defense are Delano middle linebacker Ross Rodarte.
Note: Tonight, a memorial ceremony will be held for Porterville High’s Jake Van Winkle, who was tragically killed in a traffic accident earlier this summer. PHS coach Rick Stewart will present a jersey to Van Winkle’s parents.
