Stout, Garza lead in dominant South win in 47th Lions All-Star Football Game

Quarterback Eleazar Garza of Merced’s Golden Valley High is as tough as they come. Which is why he had no doubt he would return from a devastating injury better than before.

The 6-foot quarterback was injured early in a Week 8 Central California Conference matchup against Patterson, breaking his fibula and suffering a severe ankle injury. He tried to play through it but eventually left the game in the second quarter.

“Basically, whoever won that won the league,” Garza said of the Oct. 14 game. “We scored and our crowd erupted. And then I went down. Everything just fell silent and I couldn’t get back up. I tried to go back in but you can only do so much.”

Garza bounced back quicker than most. He was scheduled to start walking Feb. 24 but says he was running and cutting by Feb. 10. He was back in time for the winter sports season and in the spring, ran track for the Cougars.

Saturday, in the 47th Central Valley Lions All-Star Game, Garza got his first chance to put the pads since his injury. The event made its return after the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first time the game has been played since 2019.

“I love basketball and I love track, but football has always been on my heart … it’s always been my number one love above everything else,” Garza said. “I always say after that first hit, it’s on a roll. I got hit that one time and the next series, touchdown. I know putting on the pads was something different, so I knew I was coming back with a vengeance.”

Garza, who split time at quarterback with Turlock High’s Cole Gilbert, threw 21- and 46-yard touchdown passes to help lead the South team to a dominant 38-13 victory over the North. He earned the Les Ratzlaff Offensive MVP Award.

“It’s such a relief because — I’m not gonna lie — there was a lot of doubters … saying I wouldn’t be able to do it,” he said. “Coming back and being able to shut them up is just one of the greatest things ever. Especially an all star game. We have the best of the best.”

Garza threw his first touchdown to Pitman High’s Joey Stout, who shined from the start.

The shifty slot receiver and Wayne Schneider All-Star Game MVP Award recipient scored the game’s first touchdown on a 68-yard jet sweep run with 5:32 left in the first quarter and was on the receiving end of a 21-yard strike from Garza in the second.

The North scored its only points on back-to-back first-half touchdowns after the South took a 7-0 lead. The Garza-Stout second-quarter connection sparked a run of 31 unanswered points.

Garza’s and Stout’s journeys go back to youth football, where they faced off as opponents.

“We battled head to head through youth football and even in high school when we played them last year,” Stout said. “We had a connection because we kind of knew each other already, so being able to catch that pass with him just felt amazing.”

When practices began at Edison High last Monday, North coach Booker Guyton was informed by nearly 10 players who had previously committed to be playing in the game that they would be opting out. He had to add several players from his own team who recently graduated, plus a few from other schools.

By Wednesday, there were 26 players working out under the guidance of Edison’s coaches and there still were plenty of all-star level players on the field Saturday night.

Kimball’s Jayden Mckey connected with Edison’s Tyree Owens for a first-quarter touchdown and Edison’s Johnel Pettus rushed for a second-quarter score. On defense, the North forced three interceptions and had a fumble recovery.

Orestimba’s Vincent Lopez was on the receiving end of Garza’s second touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, Golden Valley running back Jahkylle Smith rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Patterson kicker Christian Casillas was perfect on the day, drilling five extra points and connecting on a 27-yard field goal.

Central Catholic’s Roland Brown earned the Bob Mattos Defensive MVP Award after coming away with two interceptions and recording four tackles. He also shined as a punt returner. High school teammate Jaelen Nichols also came away with an interception, Ceres High’s LeBron Stallworth recorded a pair of sacks and Hilmar’s Luis Vargas recorded a team-high 10 tackles.

Fermin Villegas of Le Grand and Sonora’s Tyler Sells were named “most inspirational” for the South and North teams, respectively.

Trent Merzon never ate before games as Oakdale’s head coach, but Saturday, he finished off the pregame meal with his South team and fellow coaches.

“There’s really nothing I can screw up. I coach outside linebackers. I don’t have to make a call.” said the former Mustangs coach, who was on the sidelines for the last time as co-head coach.

Merzon coached the defense with mentor and former Oakdale head coach Mark Malone. The pair headed an attack that caused confusion in the backfield, created takeaways in the secondary and held the North to just a pair of touchdowns.

“It was awesome to be with Mark again,” Merzon said. “It brought me back. He really taught me how to coach. He taught me right from wrong. … He taught us our way, our style, and it was awesome having back again. It really did flash me back.

“I coached outside linebackers, and even then I let Coach Malone do all the coaching and it was like I was 25 years old again.”

Davis High’s Tim Garcia served as South co-head coach and called the offense. The South scored in every quarter and reached the end zone four straight possessions in the second and fourth quarters.

“We were excited about the plan coming into the game and we were excited about our kids as far as the comprehension of the playbook and the scheme on both sides of the ball,” Garcia said. “It was just going to come down to execution. Coach Guyton does a great job and (the North) has some great athletes. We knew we had our work cut out for us, but if we just stuck to the plan and played good football with 11 guys on each side of the ball, we would have a chance.”

Saturday’s event capped a successful return and both teams used the week to practice and build bonds with players and coaches they will remember.

“It feels great just coming out to the game. Being able to play in this game is an honor,” Stout said. “Coming into the game, I knew it was gonna be high intensity because it’s an all star game and I just came in mentally prepared. … It’s been a while since I’ve been on the field, but I came out this week and I felt like I was at home.”