SAN DIEGO -- It wasn't the best of nights for Mikey Head, his North team lost 10-6 in the Alex Spanos All-Star Football Classic on Friday at Patrick Henry High, but he earned some respect and picked up a trophy to boot.
The slot receiver from Ramona, who is generously listed as 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, was the leading receiver for the North with six receptions for 62 yards. And his courageous catch over the middle on a 25-yard pitch from his high school teammate, Ian Hunt, set up the only score for the North, a 1-yard touchdown run by Andy Early in the second quarter.
"I'm just playing football," Head said. "That's just what I grew up doing. It's natural to me."
For his efforts, Head was named the North's most valuable player. Ronnie Yell (Lincoln) scampered 71 yards for the winning touchdown with 8:14 to play in the fourth quarter and was named the South's most valuable player.
The MVP trophies feature a player striking a Heisman-like pose atop a wooden base.
"I'll enjoy it, yeah," said Head, who is headed to Palomar College. "But I'd give it up for a win tonight."
Head came alive when Hunt came off the bench to relieve the North's starting quarterback, Mike Leonard (Carlsbad), in the second quarter with the South leading 3-0.
"I got a little excited when he came in the game," Head said, "because we have a lot of chemistry together."
Head caught three passes from Hunt as the North marched deep into South territory. Faced with third-and-10 from the South 26, Hunt zipped a pass over the middle to Head, who went up to make the catch and was spun around in mid-air by two South defensive backs, but managed to hold on.
"He's just a playmaker," said Hunt, who was 8-for-10 for 103 yards and no interceptions. "If you need somebody to go to, you know he'll get open.
"I dropped back and I just saw a gap, and him breaking. He kind of leaned to the left before he broke right. And I got it off before he broke right. He went up for it and made the grab, as usual. He came down hard."
It took Head a moment or two to gather his senses. But he returned to the game to catch a couple more passes, including a 19-yarder which proved to be the North's biggest play from scrimmage in the second half.
"That's how he is," said North coach Damon Baldwin, who was Head's coach at Ramona. "He is a tenacious tiger, who's about 5-9, 170. He's fearless and he did that all last year for us.
"He's just a big-play kid. And Palomar College is getting a phenomenal competitor. He's got the heart of a lion and it's neat to see him get that award tonight."
The North maintained it's 6-3 lead into the fourth quarter. But Yell changed the complexion of the game with a single play.
Lining up at quarterback, he dropped back to pass on third-and-5 from his own 29, but faced some heavy pressure and scrambled to his right. Yell saw some daylight, found the right sideline and was off to the races with the help of a block by wide receiver Andrew Grimes (Bonita Vista).
"Everything just opened up," Yell said, "so I just ran and took it."
South coach Ron Burner (El Capitan) moved Yell around, playing him at slot and wide receiver, and letting him take some snaps too.
"We wanted to get him the ball," Burner said. "And obviously you saw what happens when he gets free."
Each team put together a long drive on its first possession. The South capitalized on its initial drive, moving 66 yards in 14 plays to set up a 30-yard field goal by Roman Ferreira of Cathedral Catholic for a 3-0 lead with 3:21 to play in the first quarter.
Thomas Espenesa (Rancho Bernardo) and Jacob Driver (La Costa Canyon) combined to sack South quarterback Mason Mills (Coronado) on third-and-goal from the 5-yard line to force the field goal attempt.
Upon getting the football for the first time, the North drove deep into South territory with the help of a pass interference penalty that wiped out an end zone interception by South safety Ivan Eniquez. But the North, which lost kicker Bobby Wenzing when he was injured earlier in the week, had to turn to Sean Adams, who missed a 26-yarder wide right.
Early (Orange Glen) got the North on the board with a short touchdown run to cap off a 13-play, 75-yard drive for a 6-3 lead with 2:18 remaining in the first half.
