By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
Heading into camp for the 30th annual Lions All-Star Football Game, North coach Joe Blevins was a little concerned about the lack of size on his squad's offensive line.
Not anymore.
When about five players failed to show up for the first day of camp, Blevins, who guided Mount Shasta to a Northern Section Division 3 championship last year, took the opportunity to fill those empty spots with plenty of beef.
"When we started camp, our line averaged about 220 pounds," said Blevins. "Now we average about 260, so that makes me feel more comfortable."
The size of the North line was a concern prior to the start of camp because of the size of the players on the South roster. While the initial South roster showcased several hefty players, including one over 300 pounds, the North was relatively puny in comparison.
But that all changed with Blevins' additions. Jacob Stout of Anderson, a 250-pound tackle, joins the North squad along with 270-pound Derek Burges of West Valley. Aaron Echavez of Foothill tips the scales at 300 pounds while Cougar teammate Eric Cook weighs in at 270. They join original selection John Schwabauer of Red Bluff, who weighs 290.
Two of the smaller players on the line are the Johnsons from Corning, Pat and Chris. Pat Johnson was an all-league pick for the Cardinals and could start at center. Meanwhile Chris was injured most of last season, but was an all-league player as a junior. He will play next to his Corning teammate as a guard.
One of the no-shows was Enterprise quarterback Ty Houghton, who figured to be the starter after earning all-league honors in the Eastern Athletic League last season. With his absence, Blevins picked up his own QB at Mount Shasta, Tyler Stokes, and has been working heavily with original picks Hector Hernandez of Orland and Terry Stangel of Los Molinos.
"They each have their own strengths," said Blevins. "Hector is a little unorthodox, but he can really run the ball. He's very deceptive. Terry came in and he's picked up things very quickly. He can really throw the ball. At this point, he is probably the starter."
Stangel started his senior season at Portola High School. But when the Tigers dropped football in the second week of September, Stangel got the okay from the Northern Section office to transfer to Los Molinos. There, Stangel threw for 1,231 yards and 15 touchdowns in just eight games and led the Bulldogs to their first Northern Section championship game appearance in 13 years.
Hernandez, meanwhile, played quarterback for the Orland Trojans last year. While Orland managed just a 2-8 season, Hernandez often put on a highlight show running and passing the ball. He had eight touchdown plays last year of over 30 yards and he also scored on a kickoff and a punt return.
Both Hernandez and Stangel will have a bevy of talented athletes joining them in the backfield, including two of the all-time leading rushers in Northern Section history. Mount Shasta's Patrick Lunney finished his career as the section's all-time leader with 5,115 yards while Brandon Baldwin finished 10th all-time with 3,670 yards. Both were All-Northern Section first team running backs last year.
At receiver, the North has one of the best athletes in the section in West Valley's Josh McOmber. The Northern Section record holder in the hurdles, McOmber will take his blazing speed to Eastern Washington this fall.
The All-Star Game is slated for July 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Shasta College in Redding.
Following is the North Roster
WR - Josh McOmber, West Valley
WR - Tyler Stokes, Mt. Shasta
WR - Alex Edgar, Tulelake
WR - Torsten Waurig, Shasta
TE - Daniel Gnekow, Enterprise
TE - Liam Iverson, Modoc
OL - Julio Lopez, Mt. Shasta
OL - Andrew Landis, West Valley
OL - Niko Kuyper, Central Valley
OL - Patrick Saucedo, Hamilton
OL -Tyler Leventon, Big Valley
OL - Matt Anderson, Anderson
OL - Jacob Stout, Anderson
OL - Aaron Echavez, Foothill
OL - Eric Cook, Foothill
OL - Mike Berger, Foothill
OL - Pat Johnson, Corning
OL - Chris Johnson, Corning
OL - John Schwabauer, Red Bluff
OL - PJ Thompson, Lassen
OL - Derek Burgess, West Valley
QB - Hector Hernandez, Orland
QB - Terry Stangel, Los Molinos
RB - Brandon Baldwin, Foothill
RB - Todd Snider, Mercy
RB - Steven Embury, Yreka
RB - Drew Nobles, Bishop Quinn
RB - Jesse Harer, Modoc
RB - Patrick Lunney, Mt. Shasta
RB - Chris Wall, Burney
RB - Mike Bennett, Butte Valley
RB - Bucky Duggan, Shasta
RB - Zach Gibbins, Anderson
