High school football starts play for a cause
Football stars from around the Central Coast hit the field at Rabobank Stadium for a good cause Friday night. It’s the 33rd annual All-star Football Game.
Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and South Santa Clara counties brought out their best players for this event.
Not only does the game bring those players together in a unique way, it benefits two non-profits that organizers say have a big impact on the community.
“They get to use their talents to help the community,” Mali Cuda, the Chair of the 2018 Central Coast All-Star Game says.
The game raises money for Operation Give Back Toy Drive and the Central Coast chapter of the National Football Foundation.
The two teams each raising money for their side and the winning team gets a bonus donation for their cause.
“It’s providing opportunities to people who might not otherwise have them,” said Jim Hansen with the National Football Foundation, “It’s also shining a light on the athlete who maybe is not the best athlete on the team, maybe not the best student on the team, maybe not the most involved in the community but has the greatest breadth and is the most complete scholar athlete.”
“We are really proud that we are able to do that not only with this game but putting that in the hearts of the players,” said Cuda.
Along with the funds that will be raised for the non-profits, coach Steven Zenk, whose team played for Operation Give Back, says the best part of the all-star game is the unity it brings among the players.
“We play against each other all year and it’s kind of nice at the end to get a chance to play together,” Zenk said.
Though there’s no real loser in the All-Star game Coach Zenk says the competitive spirit in the players is still alive.
“You always play the game to win right?” Zenk says laughingly, “Every game you play to win but this is really more about the kids and them having a great experience more than anything else.”
The game ended in a 15-15 tie. Both teams getting to give their non-profits the bonus.
