We at Cal-Hi Sports are proud to continue to help out with the local all-star football game in our Stockton/Modesto community. We’ll post similar summer all-star football updates, but can only spend the time helping out our local game. Other games would need to send us the stories directly to markjtennis@gmail.com. This story is part of that support.
The 44th Lions All-Star Football Classic will be played on Saturday, June 17 at Wayne Schneider Stadium in Tracy. CLICK HERE to see the rosters of the two teams.
This list was inspired by the inclusion of Jake Dunniway (St. Mary’s) and Cutrell Haywood (Stagg) for the North team this year and also Will Semone (Oakdale) for the South. Unfortunately, Will withdrew from the South team two weeks ago.
St. Mary’s QB Jake Dunniway hopes to lead North team to victory in upcoming Lions All-Star Game. Photo: Mark Tennis.
Jake Dunniway Notes
Without question, Dunniway is the only quarterback ever selected for the Lions Game who has thrown for more than 4,000 yards for the previous season. To be exact, the recent graduate of St. Mary’s passed for 4,066 yards and 46 touchdowns while leading the Rams to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title and then in a heart-breaking overtime loss to San Diego-Cathedral Catholic in the CIF Division I state championship.
The only other quarterback in the history of the Lions Game who had totals as a senior close to what Dunniway had last season was Aaron Zwahen of Modesto-Downey. He was the MVP of the 2013 all-star game at Modesto Junior College and in his senior season for the Knights he passed for 3,852 yards and 49 touchdowns. The highest previous total for a participating North QB was Osai Brown of McNair, who played in last year’s game. Brown passed for 3,383 yards and 50 scores during the 2015 season.
Cutrell Haywood Notes
Haywood and his teammates at Stagg didn’t face Dunniway and St. Mary’s last season, but as juniors in 2015 it was the Rams who ended the Delta Kings’ season in the Division I section playoffs with a 65-35 triumph.
As a senior, Haywood became even more of a focus in Stagg’s offense and he wound up with 100 catches for 1,644 yards and 22 touchdowns. In the history of the Lions game, there’s never been another incoming receiver with that many yards from the previous season or one with that many touchdown catches. The only receiver who’s been in the game with more catches is Javon Kelly of Modesto-Downey. He played in the 2010 Lions game and had 105 catches for 1,565 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2009.
South note: The top stat star player from this year’s most current South roster is receiver Marcellus Boykins of Ceres. He caught 78 passes for 1,145 yards and nine TDs last season.
Based on going through year-by-year rosters, the state record book and other reported stat leader lists, here are some other players from the North and South squads who’ve been in the Lions All-Star Game after posting impressive senior season totals:
Wayne Brooks (Stagg) – As a junior for Delta Kings in 2011, he had 2,920 yards passing and 36 touchdowns. He added 2,012 more yards in 2012, then was in the Lions game in 2013.
Kevin Brown (Franklin) – During the 2004 season, Brown turned heads by catching 20 touchdown passes. He played in 2005 all-star game.
Aaron Zwahlen was MVP of 2013 Lions Game. Photo: Mark Tennis.
Anthony Cota (Sierra) – He piled up 1,966 yards rushing and scored 38 touchdowns during 2012 season. Cota later played in 2013 Lions game.
Justin Cox (St. Mary’s) – He shined for the Rams in 2010 and caught 54 passes for 1,153 yards and 13 scores. Cox played in the Lions game in 2011.
Jarrod Daniels (Sierra) – To go with 32 TDs, Daniels also rushed for 1,813 yards for the Timberwolves in 2009. He played in 2010 game.
Orlando Evans (Brookside Christian) – He played in the 1999 Lions game and in 1998 he had 38 touchdown passes.
JaQuan Gardner (Central Valley, Ceres) – Since Will Semone of Oakdale dropped (he had 2,851 yards rushing last season), Gardner is the one running back who’s played in the game for the South with the most yards. He had 2,467 yards and scored 27 TDs in 2012.
Demarrio Hammonds (Patterson) – The Tigers only lost one game in 2013 and Hammonds was sensational. He ended with 65 catches for 1,164 yards and 18 TDs. He also scored as a running back and on kick returns.
Javon Kelly (Downey, Modesto) – It was a zany year throwing the ball for the Knights in 2009 and Kelly was the team’s Lions Game rep. He had 105 catches for 1,565 yards and 20 TDs and oh by the way that was regular season only. No playoffs.
Brandon Labry (Gustine) – He played mostly at another position in last year’s game for the South, but the previous fall for Gustine he rushed for 2,199 yards and scored 24 TDs.
Richard Lopez (Downey, Modesto) — Another WR for this school, Lopez played in the Lions Game after catching 18 TD passes during 2011 season.
Zach Moreno (LeGrand) – A star player on LeGrand’s 2010 team that played in the CIF small schools state bowl game, Moreno had 71 catches that season for 1,453 yards and 21 TDs.
Bryan Morris (Weston Ranch) – Talented receiver was among the section leaders in 2007 with 21 touchdown catches and played in 2008 all-star game.
Jeremy Powers (Linden) – Prior to appearing in the 2012 Lions game, Powers had 1,962 yards rushing and 16 TDs for Linden in 2011.
Zach Roberson (Summerville) – He passed for 2,893 yards and 37 TDs as a junior in 2009 and then had 2,552 yards and 22 TDs as a senior in 2010.
P.J. Wilson (Downey, Modesto) – Yet another of the prolific recent QBs at Downey, Wilson passed for 2,901 yards and 34 TDs during 2013 season.
Aaron Zwahlen (Downey, Modesto) – As mentioned earlier, the MVP for the 2013 Lions Game went nuts as a QB for the Knights in 2012 with 3,852 yards passing and 49 TDs.
