Howard Warren of Grant scored a pair of touchdowns to spark the North All-Stars past the South, 21-7, last Saturday in the 53rd rendition of the Sacramento Optimist All-Star Football Game.
Warren scored on an 11-yard run in the third quarter to wipe out a 7-6 South lead and then added a 34-yard gallop in the fourth quarter for an insurance score.
Del Oro coach Casey Taylor, who coordinated offense for the North, said the game was a typical all-star contest where the defenses are usually ahead of the offenses.
“It’s tough in a week’s time to get any rhythm down especially on offense,” said Taylor. “We were looking at a lot of second down and 12s.”
However, Taylor pointed out that the North’s athleticism took fold in the second half.
“The kids did a great job,” said Taylor. “We put together a couple of drives and that’s what we needed.”
Several foothill area athletes helped the North get the win as Jeff Divine of Colfax had a big catch in one of the winner’s scoring drives.
Meanwhile, Colfax quarterback Spencer Lewis found Del Oro’s Joe Brunet on a two-point conversion pass after the North’s second score.
Barry Nobles and Josh Smith of Del Oro also played for the winning North with Nobles kicking an extra point and also having a big night punting the ball. Smith was also solid on the North line.
The North’s first touchdown came via a 46-yard pass interception return by Grant’s Marvin Lamb.
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Optimist Football

North 0 7 7 7 — 21
South 0 7 0 0 — 7
North — Marvin Lamb, Grant, 46 interception return (kick failed)
South — Denzel Pruitt, Sacramento, 5 pass from Miles Freeman, Burbank (Ward kick)
North — Howard Warren, Grant, 11 run (Spencer Lewis, Colfax, pass to Joe Brunet, Del Oro)
North — Warren, Grant, 34 run (Barry Nobles, Del Oro, kick)