Modesto defensive star takes top award in shootout Lions All-Star Game
MJ Uili of Modesto High left the 49th Central California Lions All-Star Game with the top defensive honor after posting a game-high 13 tackles in the South's 42-37 loss to the North at Tracy High's Wayne Schneider Stadium. Despite the result, Uili proved he could stand out among the top seniors from across the southern half of the Sac-Joaquin Section and was named the game's Defensive MVP.
South head coach Jeremy Plaa of Downey praised Uili for adjusting to a different defensive style in the all-star setting and still finding ways to make plays. Uili, who earned all-CCAL second-team honors after a senior season with 71 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss, said advice from former Modesto coach Dylan Miller to trust his keys helped carry him through the night. He also noted that his next step begins immediately at Modesto Junior College.
The game itself featured plenty of offense and late controversy. The North scored first and never trailed, but the South kept the pressure on in a back-and-forth fourth quarter. A disputed late conversion on what Plaa argued should have been an illegal fake punt helped the North keep possession and run out the clock. Earlier, the South also benefited from a blocked punt that the story noted should have been ruled dead under the all-star game's special rules.
Zak Willson of Sierra was named the overall MVP after throwing for more than 200 yards, tossing three touchdown passes, and scoring on a 13-yard run. Isaac Sagapolu of Edison was selected as the game's Offensive MVP. The South offense got touchdown throws from Carson Lamb of Downey to Jeremiah Dela Rosa and Joseph Delte, plus a trick-play score that saw Noah Cozart get loose on a 54-yard double pass.
Other South standouts included Reis Smith of Ceres, who had eight tackles and a pass breakup, Ryne Moore of Downey, who recorded five tackles and two sacks, and Colton Taylor of Hughson, who blocked the punt mentioned in the game's controversy. In the postgame awards, the North Most Inspirational honor went to Ruben Moreno, while the South Most Inspirational award went to Time Sitala Jr. of Turlock.