Scudellari, Taufoou make big plays in 7-3 all-star game win over South

By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer

photos by Joe Hu/Town Crier North quarterback Richie Scudellari of St. Francis High is wrapped up by a South defender in last week’s Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game at San Jose City College. Scudellari would later throw the winning touchdown pass.

Recent members of the St. Francis High football team probably have fonder memories of their annual physicals than playing at San Jose City College. The Lancers lost playoff games there the past two seasons and to rival Bellarmine in 2004.

Last week’s 32nd annual Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game provided four players on last year’s St. Francis team a chance at redemption on that field. They didn’t leave disappointed.

Quarterback Richie Scudellari, linebacker/running back Matt Taufoou and linemen Sioeli Fakalata and Mark Boskovich got their first win at San Jose City as part of a North team that defeated the South 7-3.

“It feels good to finally get a win on that field,” Taufoou said after the July 19 game, a showcase for Santa Clara County’s top players in the class of 2006. “Our curse is broken.”

And all four players contributed to breaking it.

Scudellari threw the winning touchdown; Boskovich blocked on the play; and Taufoou and Fakalata combined to squash a pivotal fourth-down run by the South.

The decisive score came with 1:19 left to play, as Scudellari rolled right and threw across the field to receiver Chantz Staden (Westmont) for a 15-yard touchdown. The pass - which capped an 11-play, 65-yard drive - surprised even Scudellari’s longtime teammate Taufoou.

“I never saw him do that before - go across his body and throw like that,” Taufoou said. “It shocked me and everyone. I never thought he’d pull off something like that.”

That play might not have been as significant without the one Taufoou and Fakalata made earlier in the quarter. The South, leading 3-0, went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1, and the two Lancers dropped halfback Shaun Souza (Pioneer) for a loss.

“I felt the play was coming and I just went for it,” Taufoou said.

It was just one of a slew of plays Taufoou made that evening. Although game officials did not keep official stats, Taufoou estimated he had 15 tackles and tipped a pass that led to an interception in the first quarter. Taufoou also made an impact on offense, rushing for about 50 yards and picking up a vital first down on the winning drive with a nine-yard burst on third down.

“It was probably the best game I’ve ever played,” Taufoou said.

Too bad he doesn’t remember all of it. Taufoou suffered a slight concussion late in the first quarter that kept him on the sideline until almost halftime.

The St. Francis players may have stolen the show, but they weren’t the only local players aiding the North’s cause.

Los Altos High’s Pete Cronin and Adam Pittman saw action at linebacker and cornerback, respectively, and on special teams. Cronin was inches away from blocking a punt at the end of the first half and Pittman recovered an onside kick to open the game.

Cronin said he wasn’t surprised the South tried the onside kick and that Pittman’s recovery “gave us a boost.”

The North came into the game having lost the last four all-star games and six of the past seven.

“I think a lot of people thought the South was going to walk right over us,” Cronin said. “But we showed more heart, pushed at the end and wanted it more.”

Other graduated seniors playing for the North included cornerback Kevin Metsers and fullback Alec Nelson of Mountain View High; halfback/defensive back Jay Atkins and linebacker/tight end Caleb Wilcox of Homestead, and Mitty receiver/defensive back Doug Williams, a Los Altos resident.

The Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game, also known as the Silicon Valley Youth Classic, is named after the former football coach at Los Gatos High who suffers from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).