Lions football game on July 28

This morning, at 8 a.m., the North team checked into the College of the Siskiyous and the South team checked into Chico State University. This signals the public there are 10 days left before the two teams clash at Shasta College’s Memorial Stadium on July 28 in the 30th annual Lions All-Star Football Classic.

The activities, which start at 7 p.m., match the top graduated high school senior football players in northern California. Many of these players will be heading off to college and it will be one last time to see them play high school ball.

The North team, which brings a two-year win streak, is composed of players from Tehama County to the Oregon border. The South team, which is behind by two in the 30-year event has 13 wins and one tie to the 15 wins from the north. The South team is made up of players from Butte, Plumas, Glenn, Colusa, Yuba and Sutter counties.

The players will be confined to the campus during the practices but the Lions have scheduled activities such as water parks and other events. They will go over football basics and the play books they received. There is little time to get the players together as cohesive units.

The North team will be coached by Joe Blevins of Mt. Shasta High School and the South team will be coached by Mike Mason of Lindhurst High School. Each team will hold a scrimmage on Saturday and the players’ families are invited to watch. The players will then go home for the weekend and report back to their camps on Monday July 23. The day of the game, July 28, there will be 2 p.m. dinner for parents and guests at $15 each.

In the past 30 years the Lions have been putting on this event there have been some notables which have been involved. Blevins would be on that list along with Ricky Ray, Jason Seahorn, Greg Grendell and many others.

Both coaches were at a press luncheon last Wednesday for the July 28 game.

North coach Joe Blevins said, “It’s all about the kids — and their regard for the game and the community prestige.”

“We want to keep it simple, but hope to add some flavor,” said Blevins.

South coach Mike Mason said his offensive line averaged 255 pounds and they will run out of a “I” formation.

The north team has four local graduates, two from West Valley and two from Anderson.

Josh McOmber and Andy Landis are from West Valley and Zach Gibbins and Matt Anderson are from Anderson.

“The practices often become a bonding experience,” said Launa Myers an assistant coordinator. She gave an example of football enemies being turned into lifelong friends.

This year’s game will be dedicated to the memory of Brian Parks, the Willows High football player who collapsed and died last summer on the practice field.

Tickets for this event may be purchased in Redding at Nor Cal Satellite on East Cypress, Sports L-T-D, at Sports Fever in the Mt. Shasta Mall and all Members First Credit Unions in Redding, Anderson and Red Bluff. In Chico, tickets can be obtained at Royal’s Team Sports on East First Avenue and in Willows at the Body Works. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate. The game is sponsored by US Bank and Coca Cola of Redding.