LOS GATOS — The 49th annual Charlie Wedemeyer all-star game was nothing short of intense.
Even as rain poured down on Los Gatos High’s football field, Santa Clara County’s best seniors played the game as if the state title was on the line. In the end, the South dominated the North and cruised to a 28-6 win Saturday night.
“I just loved the fact that everyone had that energy to bring it one last time,” said Los Gatos wide receiver Jaylen Thomas. “Having that atmosphere made me appreciate tonight even more.”
The game was filled with big hits, electric plays and even a bit of gamesmanship for those on the field Saturday night.
“What surprised me was just the ferociousness of some of those hits,” Christopher coach Darren Yafai said.
“I think the two teams were really chomping at the bit to be able to go full speed and really hit someone, so it was really fun to see.”
Christopher cornerback Amari Bluford added, “We kind of started chirping a bit, so we just turned up and it started a fire for both teams.”
The Charlie Wedemeyer game is an annual event that showcases the top high school football seniors in Santa Clara County. Wedemeyer was a coach at Los Gatos High for several years and led the Wildcats to the 1985 Central Coast Section Championship.
In 1977, Wedemeyer was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease). Doctors told him he would live three more years at most, but Wedemeyer would battle the disease until his death in 2010. During Los Gatos’ 1985 championship run, Wedemeyer’s wife Lucy read Wedemeyer’s lips and relayed his play calls to his players.
The yearly game commemorates Wedemeyer and donates proceeds to the ALS Foundation and Coaches Against Cancer.
Here are five takeaways from Saturday’s game:
College commitments
Many of the players who took the field Saturday are planning to continue their playing careers at the next level.
For Thomas, he will be staying home and honoring his commitment to San Jose State University despite former SJSU coach Brent Brennan’s departure for the University of Arizona. Thomas said his conversations with new Spartans coach Ken Niumatalolo have gone well.
“I’ve talked to coach (Ken) and he’s been great,” Thomas said. “I trust the staff out there and they made the right hire. It’s only up from here.”
Among the other players who participated in Saturday’s game was Wilcox offensive tackle Justin Hylkema. Initially committed to Arizona, Hylkema flipped his commitment on Monday to the University of Washington to follow former Arizona coach Jedd Fisch.
Bluford, who intercepted two passes for the South, said he is likely to commit to the College of Idaho.
Yafai’s farewell
Saturday’s game marked the last time Yafai will step on the football field as a head coach.
Yafai officially retired after Christopher’s season ended a few months ago, but he couldn’t turn down the opportunity to coach one last time in the coveted All-Star game.
“It was really fun,” Yafai said about coaching his team to a victory.
“All the guys worked hard and there was no stress. It’s been a grind coaching varsity high school football. Coming in, I was excited.”
Yafai has coached high school football for the last 33 years and is the winningest coach in Gilroy High School’s history. In three seasons as Christopher’s coach, he won 27 games.
“To play for my head coach for his last high school game made today even more special,” Bluford said.
Yafai’s last game as a football player was in the Division I CCS finals against Wedemeyer and Los Gatos.
“This game kind of feels full circle for me,” Yafai said.
“Now I’m standing at Los Gatos High School, getting to know Lucy a bunch. It makes it really special because the Wedemeyer family, the Los Gatos tradition and the 49th annual game makes it all the more special.”
A battle bigger than football
At halftime, Gilroy running back/linebacker Tyler Hodges was given the Coaches Against Cancer Spirit Award. The 5-foot-8, 200-pound running back/linebacker was diagnosed with cancer in January and will require chemotherapy.
“He’d much rather be playing football, but he’s in the fight for his life,” said Los Gatos head coach Mark Krail. “He’s going to beat this thing and there’s no doubt about it.”
Hodges was named Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa-Foothill Division Senior of the Year this past season.
Bellarmine QB comes up huge
Parker Threatt’s two second half rushing touchdowns ended up being the difference in the game.
Threatt’s first touchdown in the third quarter put the South up 21-6 with just under six minutes left. His second score put the game out of reach for the North as he waltzed in for a six-yard touchdown to put the South up 28-6.
Wedemeyer award winner
The 2024 Charlie Wedemeyer award was given to Los Gatos defensive back/wide receiver Scott Garwood.
Krail revealed Garwood played the CIF 2A championship against Central Valley Christian with a cracked scapula. Garwood was one of Los Gatos’ senior captains this past season.
