*** 26th All-Star Game ***

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highlights

South captures Wedemeyer win
By Mark Gomez, Mercury News

The South withstood a fourth-quarter rally and held on for a 16-8 victory Wednesday night at Spartan Stadium in the 26th annual Charlie Wedemeyer all-star football game.

Trailing 16-2, the North scored on Santa Clara quarterback Andy Heiser's 9-yard run with 1:34 remaining. The North opted for a two-point conversion attempt, but Heiser's pass fell incomplete.

The North went for an onside kick, but Pioneer's Brian Davis recovered at midfield and the South ran out the clock.

"That was a little tense, but we covered all the situations," said South Coach Matt Kiesle of Piedmont Hills. "We had a hands team and they did it perfect. That practice paid off. It was a real joy coaching these guys."

The South scored on touchdown passes by Willow Glen's David Macchi and Hill's Julian Jimenez and a field goal. The victory gives the South the series lead at 12-11-3.

Macchi sparked the South to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, completing 5 of 8 passes for 55 yards. On the South's second possession, Macchi connected with Pioneer running back Mike Wiens for an 11-yard touchdown. Wiens kept the drive alive when he gained 10 yards on fourth-and-two from the North's 21.

No weak links
"We worked on that play all week," said Macchi, who completed 8 of 13 passes for 71 yards. "It was nice. There was not a weak link. It was hard getting everyone the ball."

The North countered with a defensive score in the second quarter when Los Gatos' Jared Allen sacked Jimenez in the end zone for a safety.

The North struggled to get momentum in the first half. Heiser completed 1 of 3 passes for 19 yards, and the running backs - Mitty's Kevin May, Santa Clara's Billy Hampton and Wilcox's Brandon Simmons - combined for 27 yards in 10 carries. Heiser, who will attend Nevada on a scholarship, rebounded in the second half to complete 6 of 11 passes for 57 yards.

"Our little tiny guys went around big, big guys all night long," Kiesle said, adding that Mt Pleasant's Ike Ohiomu played a great game on the defensive line.

The South increased its lead in the second quarter with a 32-yard field goal by Live Oak's Jose Mendoza.

Jimenez hits clincher
The South's second touchdown came in the fourth quarter when Jimenez found Oak Grove's G.B. Wilson for a 9-yard pass, capping a nine-play 39-yard drive.

"I'm really glad Julian started to click," Kiesle said, "He called that play. He wanted to throw a slant and there it was. That was great for him because he was hanging his head a little bit after throwing that interception."

At halftime the Almaden Valley Rotary Club held a moment of silence for Chad Parker, a Live Oak student who was chosen to play in the game but was killed in an automobile accident in April. Parker's parents, Kent and Liz, were presented with his all-star jersey, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd of about 3,500.

"It meant a lot," said Mark Kaanapu, co-coach of the South who coached Parker at Live Oak. "Chad was a football guy. I know tonight he was here with us."