As the professionals participated in this past weekend’s NFL Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, a collection of the best local prep football players got together for one last time on the gridiron Saturday evening.
St. Francis senior Javier Fonseca Jr. tossed a pair of touchdown passes for Team Era in their 26-6 victory over Team CASA at the 39th annual Central Coast High School Football All-Star Game at Salinas High School.
His teammate Kavon Collins of Monterey High earned the Most Valuable Player honors for his performance on the field, finishing with a pair of touchdown receptions.
The all-star game featured players from Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. Fonseca’s former Sharks teammates Marcus Gonzalez and Nick Paz along with Watsonville seniors Patrick Miller-Brown and Iker Ponce represented Team Era.
Pajaro Valley seniors Brian Flores and Izaak Ocampo, and Scotts Valley seniors Jess Ringel and Elijah Velez were on Team CASA.
North Monterey County head coach Juan Coach led Team CASA, while Alisal head coach Francisco Estrada was in charge of Team Era. The money raised was donated to each charity and Team Era was awarded a bonus donation for their cause.
Collins hauled in 7- and 3-yard TD passes from Fonseca Jr. in the first half, giving Team Era a 12-0 lead going into halftime. Alisal senior Caleb Gabriel added a 30-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, followed by a 12-yard score from Seaside senior Julius Escort.
Team CASA got on the scoreboard late in the fourth when Pacific Grove senior Ben Garry caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from North Monterey County senior AJ Gomez, cutting the deficit at 26-6.
