A Doubleheader of Talent and Tradition
The Merced County All-Star Football Classic is set to return this month, delivering two distinct contests that spotlight the region’s rising football stars.
The first contest, a girls flag football matchup, will kick off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the traditional boys 11‑man game at 7:30 p.m., giving families a full evening of competition.
The South 11‑man squad draws its roster from Merced, El Capitan, Golden Valley, Stone Ridge Christian and Los Banos high schools, and is guided by El Capitan’s head coach Xavier Ramirez.
Conversely, the North team aggregates talent from Atwater, Buhach Colony, Livingston, Delhi and Hilmar, with Hilmar’s veteran coach Frank Marques steering the effort.
On the flag football side, the South side is coached by El Capitan’s Juan Valdovino, while the North side benefits from the expertise of Hilmar’s Anthony Leal, both of whom have built strong programs in their respective schools.
Tickets for the Merced County event are priced at $15 for adults and $7 for students, and can be purchased through the GoFan platform at gofan.co/event/6515736.
Separate from the county classic, the 50th annual Lions International All-Star Football Game will also feature a girls flag football game at 5 p.m., with the boys’ tackle game to follow.
Admission for the Lions game is a flat $15, available at lionsallstarfootball.com, providing another avenue for the community to celebrate local athletes.
Local media coverage, including reports from The Modesto Bee, underscores the growing popularity of high school football in the Central Valley and the importance of these all‑star showcases for player exposure and college recruitment.