Now in its 36th year, the Lions All-Star Football Classic is still a big game for local athletes closing out their high school years.

Saturday’s game at the University of the Pacific’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Stadium brings together 60 players — 30 on each team — for a week of training and drills at UOP and California State University, Stanislaus.

All-star game founder Wayne Schneider said little has changed over the years, save for the addition of new schools that contribute players to the game, and new Lions Clubs that provide volunteers to put on the event.

The intent is still to honor the area’s best players and give them a glimpse of what they’re in for when they move to the college level.

“They get to live and practice and play with guys that were their enemies at one time, and they become good friends,” Schneider said. “They witness a lot of what it’s like to play college football and test themselves against kids who are as good as they are.”

The participating schools all are within Lions Club District 4-A1, which covers the northern San Joaquin Valley and Sierra foothills. Tracy and West High schools are part of the North team, which will include all of their San Joaquin Athletic Association and Tri-City Athletic League rivals, plus Manteca and Foothill High schools.

Local players headed to the game this year include Tracy High quarterback Preston Mattos and Bulldogs linemen Daniel Colli and Scott Adams. West players are tight end Michael Thornton and linebacker Jeff Carter.

So far, the teams from the North have dominated the game, with a 21-13-1 record. Last year’s 27-21 win was the sixth in a row for the North squad.

This year, the South has some of the best offensive players to grace the game in recent years, including Deven Cannon of Johansen High of Modesto. He ran for 375 yards and five touchdowns in Johansen’s 47-13 win over McNair of Stockton in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

The Lions-sponsored all-star contest got its start when another was made inaccessible to local football teams.

Schneider said the Optimist All-Star Game in Sacramento was a regular event that he and his players looked forward to when he was Tracy High’s head football coach. But when organizers limited the game to teams from Sacramento County, Schneider and two other coaches set out to organize a new all-star game for San Joaquin Valley players.

They sought sponsors for the event and found the Lions Club District 4-A1 receptive.

Since then, the Tracy Breakfast Lions have organized the game and managed the event, and the Tank Town Lions organize the Stadium Club, where fans get VIP treatment before and during the game.

At a glance

• WHAT: 36th annual Lions All-Star Football Classic

• WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday

• WHERE: Amos Alonzo Stagg Stadium at University of the Pacific, Pershing Avenue and Larry Heller Drive, in Stockton.

• TICKETS: $10, children younger than 6 free, $35 Stadium Club pass includes food and drinks.

• INFO: Click here