But that’s because they didn’t need to.

Behind 82 yards on 11 carries from Manteca’s Andre Paterson, the North All-Stars won their fifth consecutive game against the South.

"It’s an All-Star game, so you know you don’t always do your best," said Richardson, the 2006 Tri-City Athletic League MVP and winner of West High’s John C. Kimball Award. "Sometimes, other people shine better than others. We got the win, so that is all I really care about. Just to know that you got picked is a great honor to be on the team."

An inauspicious beginning for the South, an interception thrown by Central Catholic’s Ruben Ramos that was returned for a touchdown, set the tone as the North forced three more turnovers, two of which were turned into scores.

Trailing 7-0 with 4 minutes, 30 seconds left in the second quarter, the South drove 78 yards and had two opportunities to score from the North’s 1-yard line. But the North defense stood its ground. After Oakdale’s Buddy Wallace failed to score on third down, Manteca’s Tyler MacCready sacked Golden Valley’s Chris Randle as the game went into halftime.

The South broke through the North defense late in the third quarter. Ramos found Patterson’s Mariano Ortega for a 61-yard touchdown reception. But Ortega shanked the extra point. That 7-6 margin was as close as the South would get.

Paterson, the game’s eventual MVP, scored from two yards out to make it 14-6 North with 16 seconds left in the third quarter.

The South truly entered dire straits when Lincoln defensive back Johnny Cearley and Summerville’s Nathaniel Boyer brought Ramos down in the end zone to make it 16-6 in favor of the North All-Stars.

Cearley, who also had an interception in the first quarter, was named the game’s defensive MVP.

A late touchdown from Oakdale’s Buddy Wallace cut the North lead to 16-12. But a failed two-point conversion and a failed onside kick by the South ended the night.

"It was truly a pleasure coaching this team," said Manteca head coach Eric Reis, who now has a win in the classic as well as two straight section titles to add to his resume. "They will always have a place in my heart."

Towering Wolf Pack lineman Silatoulu finished the game with one tackle in limited playing time.

"It felt good (playing out there)," Silatoulu said. "We just wanted to win."

The win was the North’s 20th in 34 tries during the annual All-Star game put on by the District 4-A1 Lions Club.