Downey's Jeremy Plaa leads South team in 49th Lions All-Star Football Game
Jeremy Plaa of Downey headed into the 49th Lions All-Star Football Game looking to showcase some of the South's most dynamic talent, including versatile standouts like Caden Bailey of Hilmar and Quintell DuPree of Merced. Plaa said the goal was to build a plan that highlighted what those players do best and gave them a final chance to shine in a high-level all-star setting.
The game was set for Saturday, June 21 at Wayne Schneider Stadium on the campus of Tracy High, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.. Plaa and members of his Downey varsity, JV, and freshman staffs were selected to lead the South team, while Tony Franks of St. Mary's and his staff prepared the North. Plaa said coaching against a staff with St. Mary's pedigree added another layer of excitement to the week.
The story also framed the Lions game as a springboard for players still deciding how far they want to take football. Plaa pointed to Trace Hernandez of Central Catholic, whose strong 2024 all-star performance reignited his passion for the sport and helped send him through Modesto Junior College to a Division I opportunity at San Jose State. Plaa said that kind of late-blooming opportunity is one of the reasons the Lions game continues to matter.
Practices for the South were set for Downey High throughout the week, and Plaa said the chance to work again with recently graduated Downey players plus several future junior-college athletes gave the camp extra energy. His focus, he said, was to give players one more meaningful week of high school football while also helping them reconnect with the grind and excitement that can carry them into the next level.
The preview also included the full 2025 South and North rosters, spotlighting just how much talent was packed into the event. Plaa said the Lions Club's continued work creates opportunities that sometimes do not fully materialize until years later, and that one of the game's biggest goals is simply giving those seniors a memorable, competitive final football experience.