Foothill High School coach Ross Griffith was tasked with taking a group of 29 men from 16 different schools and teaching them how to become an elite football team in five days.
What started as individuals barely getting to know each other through 3-a-day practices between June 11 and June 16 at Shasta College, evolved into a commanding unit of football players from the North looking to reclaim ownership of their region.
The North unleashed a display of strength and veracity rooted in a heavily disciplined offensive and defensive line Saturday night at Pleasant Valley High School
West Valley running back Niall Raby rode the coattails of his offensive line. Raby scored a 19-yard touchdown in the second quarter and another on an 11-yard run in the third quarter, while Foothill quarterback Davis Smith punched in a 2-yard rushing touchdown with 9:09 to play and led North over South 22-0.
The North’s victory marked its first win over the South since 2018, ending a two-game losing streak from 2019 and 2022. The annual Lions All-Star game wasn’t played in 2020 or 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Saturday marked just the second shutout in the Lions All-Star game history — which dates back to 1978 — with the North having previously beaten the South 47-0 in 2014.
Griffith was an assistant coach in 2014 on a staff led by former West Valley coach Greg Grandel.
Raby and Smith were named Co-MVPs for their performances.
“This is all credit to the offensive line,” Raby said with Smith echoing his compliments. “Without them, we couldn’t have this trophy.”
Offensive linemen Allan Alfaro from Orland, Mason Stankey from Shasta, Brayden Thomas from Enterprise, Ezra Muriithi of Central Valley and Kyzer Aulabaugh of Corning were instrumental in helping the North push its run game upfield.
The constant pressure between Raby’s power and shiftiness and Smith’s quick first step enhanced the pressure applied by the North in the first half.
“We were just bigger upfront,” Thomas said. “We’ve just been working hard all week.”
Here are three takeaways after the North pummeled the South in the 46th Lions All-Star game.
1. Griffith commends coaches from high schools across North
Griffith found it hard to keep a grin off his face during the week of practice.
Players he coached against or never met entered Shasta College last Monday with the enthusiasm to learn his offense and defense. The North players caught on quickly to his offensive and defensive schemes.
The result on Saturday night spoke for itself.
“We didn’t do too much,” Griffith said. “We were just the bumpers on the bowling alley. Our coaches in our area did a great job of coaching these boys up and we were just the fruits of their labor. This has been a humbling experience.”
2. LaBarbera, Wheeler and Cooper teaming up at Butte College
Foothill defensive lineman Dylan LaBarbera along with linebackers Rhys Cooper of U-Prep and Ben Wheeler of Lassen each played key roles against the South.
LaBarbera had two sacks while Cooper and Wheeler kept the South’s offense from reaching the red zone.
The gaping pressure at the line of scrimmage plus sideline to sideline coverage inhibited any momentum or rhythm the South was hoping to generate.
“It’s just great to have talent around you on defense,” Cooper said. “It was definitely a different feel. You drop back in coverage and Dylan already has a sack. It’s just been a blessing to play with these guys.”
Now the trio of LaBarbera, Cooper and Wheeler are heading to Butte College, following in 2022 U-Prep graduate and offensive lineman Connor Gilbreath’s footsteps.
All three men are hoping to follow Gilbreath’s success having played on a Butte College team that went 7-4 (4-1 Golden Valley Conference) and lost in the Northern California Bowl to Fresno City College 13-10.
“Butte wins,” Cooper said.
Gilbreath announced during the Lions All-Star game his commitment to LSU after receiving multiple Division I offers from Miami and Arizona State.
3. Players reflect on Lions All-Star game experience after historic win
LaBarbera said five days “felt like a year”
Shasta High School’s Zach Schuette was hugging teammates in tears after five days of practice, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as getting to become friends with players that once battled against each other on the football field.
“I’m glad I got to meet new people and make new friends,” Smith said.
Wheeler explained how the comradery of practicing with other college players helped the team stay disciplined throughout the evening Saturday.
“There were other players like us and we held each other accountable,” Wheeler said. “You’re getting out there with your boys and grinding every day.”
Raby explained how he used his opportunity at the Lions All-Star game to become an improved listener and teammate.
“I liked the fact that I got to learn from a different coach,” Raby said. “I’m trying to become more coachable because I’m going to go off to college and learn from other coaches.”
And just like that, the five days of Lions All-Star football festivities was over. White pants and pads were handed back to Griffith and the group of young men that bonded over hitting drills and lifting weights went their separate ways.
Griffith’s first Lions All-Star football games as a head coach ended with a win.
His hope is that more college coaches will start utilizing the North State more to recruit players whether they are from the North or South.
“People have to understand the North State has some darn good coaches and darn good players,” Griffith said. “We need to make sure that every recruiter and every college in the nation knows that the North State needs to be on their map.”
Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams’ move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS.