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Holcombe, Camorlinga selected for South All-Star roster
football all-star pic
Diego Camorlinga and DaShawn Holcombe suit up for their final day of practice on Friday before tonights Lions All-Star Football Game at MJC. - photo by FRANKIE TOVAR / The Journal

Turlock and Pitman High will each have one representative in tonight’s 40th annual Lions All-Star Football Game at Modesto Junior College. Da’Shawn Holcombe and Diego Camorlinga will sport Bulldog and Pride helmets, respectively, alongside former competitors and strangers as part of the 2013 South squad.

“It feels pretty good. It’s an honor for me, to bring great honor to my parents and make them happy,” Holcombe said. “It was a surprise, honestly. I though Brandon Esquivel might make it, too, since I got injured at the end of the season.”

“I was kind of excited, it was pretty important to me to be selected and show that I was actually pretty good,” Camorlinga said. “It was a surprise. I didn’t think I was that good; I didn’t think of myself too highly.”

The initial surprise at their selection quickly succumbed to the daily grind of practice as the two participated in three-a-days on the campus of California State University, Stanislaus. Holcombe will fill the roles of wide receiver and defensive back and Camorlinga will sit in the trenches on both the offensive and defensive lines. Though their duties will be different, both are eager and excited to don their football uniforms one more time and get their licks in.

“I’m looking forward to playing defense and hitting. I haven’t hit in a minute,” Holcombe said.

“I want to give it my all and make it count. I’m just looking forward to hitting some people for one last time,” Camorlinga said.

Though they were accustomed to staying on the field for nearly all four quarters during their senior season, Holcombe and Camorlinga will receive limited snaps tonight as the entire South roster gets a chance at a final shot of football glory. Still, the honor of being named an All-Star and sharing the field with their peers is an experience that will far outweigh any number of plays they might get.

“It’s different, playing against all these guys, pretty much hating them on the other team, and then having to come together as another band of brothers against another team. It’s cool, but different,” Camorlinga said.

Tonight’s game will be begin at 7 p.m.