Whether it's a regular-season game, a playoff showdown or an all-star contest, nothing beats familiarity.
Just ask Washington State-bound Michael Vandenkolk.
With the North ahead 7-0 just seconds into the second quarter, Vandenkolk was put into the 18th annual Alex Spanos North-South All-Star Game last night at Mt. Carmel High.
Looking just as they had on numerous occasions over the past few years at Carlsbad High, quarterback Justin Morales (headed to Idaho) lofted the ball deep to the 6-foot Vandenkolk, who caught it in full stride at the 2-yard line, finishing a 45-yard touchdown grab by striding untouched into the end zone.
It proved the difference as the North ended a two-game losing streak with a 14-7 victory before 3,148.
“Me and Justin had that connection,” Vandenkolk said of his only reception. “He knows my speed and where to put the ball.
“Call it the Carlsbad connection.”
At the time it just looked like what might have been the start of a lopsided game, coming only 1:40 after Mt. Carmel's Joey DeMartino bulled into the end zone for the North's other score.
“The play was not designed for me, but I went in for a play and Justin knew right where I was going to be,” said Vandenkolk. “It was a lot of fun. I'm glad I played. I wasn't worried about injury or anything.”
Although many of the section's top graduated seniors did not participate in the game for a variety of reasons, those who did made it exciting.
After the North opened the two-touchdown lead, it continued to dominate with good field position until the South got the ball back with 44 seconds remaining in the first half.
Eastlake's Derek Witte, who had to take every snap because he was the team's lone quarterback, wasted no time, finding Steele Canyon's Jaime Dale at the North 3-yard line.
Dale spun and muscled his way into the end zone, completing a 31-yard play set up by his 38-yard punt return.
Suddenly it was a game.
Witte, however, could not repeat the magic and the North, led by MVP Nick Milani of Poway, shut down the South offense the rest of the game.
“I'm tired, but I can't complain,” Witte said. “Who likes to sit on the bench anyway? I thought my offensive line really did a good job – I just wish we could have won.”
Winning and losing are important, but La Jolla High's Ja'Rodd Watson, bound for Colorado State, where his brother, E.J., was a standout running back, expressed the real reason the game was so much fun for the players.
“This is really going to help me,” said the 5-10, 260-pounder who was credited with a half-dozen tackles from his defensive line position. “There were a lot of players, big players, from the Mountain West Conference in this game and I know now I can play at that level.
“I'll probably redshirt my first year, but I know with my normal development, I can compete. You never know where you stand until you get a chance like this. I made some friends in this game I'll have forever.”
Steve Brand: (619) 293-1854; steve.brand@uniontrib.com
