TRACY — Some of the top local football talent took to the gridiron representing their respective high schools for the final time last Saturday at the 50th annual Lions All-Star Senior Football Game from Wayne Schneider Stadium on the campus of Tracy High School.

The game’s golden anniversary was complete with pageantry.

Wayne Schneider himself, the former Tracy High head coach that has worked each of the 50 all-star games, was honored at halftime of the tackle game. The highly-anticipated contest was preceded by the inaugural girls flag football game.

In total, 99 boys and girls from across the region participated in the day’s events, proudly competing while wearing the iconic yellow and blue Lions all-star jerseys, donated this year by a familiar No. 99, Aaron's Judge and the All Rise Foundation. Patty Judge, the mother of the Yankees star and Linden native, accepted a commemorative jersey from the Lions at halftime of the tackle game, as well.

Ultimately, it was the North that dominated the day.

In the tackle game, Escalon head coach Andrew Beam and the North pulled out a 34-14 victory over retiring Hilmar High skipper Frank Marques and the South. The flag football game was much more lopsided, as the North cruised to a 44-6 win.

Turlock High’s Levi Cook was one of the most involved players on either team Saturday, taking snaps on the offensive line and at defensive end. He totaled six tackles and two pressures against North quarterbacks.

Cook’s hard work was recognized by Marques and the Hilmar staff by having him serve as one of the four captains that met at midfield pregame to take part in the coin toss.

Serving as one of the South’s primary backs was Hughson’s Eli Wilbanks, who made the most of his limited touches. He tallied 10 yards on three carries and recorded one catch for 40 yards.

Despite Wilbanks’ Huskies being a Trans-Valley League rival to Marques’ Yellowjackets, the star running back who has had a handful of family and friends compete in the game over the years said he was grateful for the experience and camaraderie.

“I was honored to play in such a prestigious game under a highly-decorated Hilmar coaching staff, especially on its 50th anniversary,” Wilbanks said. “I’m glad I was given the opportunity and I think it was a great way to close off my high school career.

“This game is very special to me…It was overall an amazing experience. It meant a lot to be able to represent my town and my last name on such a big stage with so many other great athletes from our area.”

Pitman running back Mason Helwick, appearing in his second all-star game in as many weeks following the Merced County All-Star Football Classic, played primarily on special teams Saturday and did not have any touches when he was on the field for the South. Regardless, his selection to the legendary game was something he will treasure considering his family also has history in the annual showcase.

“It meant a lot to me to be selected to play in these all-star games and I’m sure it meant the same to all who were chosen because we all worked so hard to get here,” Helwick said. “It felt nice playing with the best athletes from around the area. It also meant a lot to me because my dad played in the Lions All-Star game in 1998 after he graduated high school, so there’s some history that I continued for my family.”

Also playing for the second straight week was Denair offensive lineman Evan Coronel. He played a significant number of snaps for the South. He reflected after last week’s Merced County All-Star game, saying, “It really doesn’t matter who won or lost. This was about coming out here and playing football for the last time. A lot of these guys probably aren’t going to play football again; I’m not going to play after next week. It was just about coming out here and having fun.”

The South’s first score of the tackle game came in the second quarter thanks to the defense, as Mariposa's Laten Butler recovered a fumble and ran for an 8-yard touchdown. The second and final touchdown came in the third quarter, when Merced quarterback Vicente Cortez connected with Golden Valley wideout Jaden Smith.

Mason Eagal from St. Mary’s in Stockton earned Most Valuable Player honors after making plays at quarterback, kicker, punt returner, safety and his natural position of defensive back. He threw two touchdown passes, made two field goas and was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra point attempts.

Eagle started the night’s scoring with a 34-yard field goal late in the first quarter and capped the night with a 30-yard field goal with 1:47 left in the game. In between he tossed a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes of 34 yards to Stagg of Stockton’s Ciah Freeman-White and 10 yards to Sonora’s Steven Morfoot. He finished with 89 yards passing, completing five of 10, booted four conversion kicks and made four tackles.

The North got its other two scores on second-period touchdown runs of 6 and 20 yards by Sonora’s Cash Byington, who was named the game’s offensive MVP.

The South’s Raul Diaz of Los Banos tallied six tackles and was the game’s defensive MVP.

Emma Coronado of Kimball was named MVP in the flag football game after throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for another. Tracy’s Izabella Gutierrez won Offensive Player of the Game with two touchdowns, a 9-yard run and a 56-yard reception. St. Mary’s standout Sosefina Hunkin was the Defensive Player of the Game with six flag pulls, a sack, three interceptions and a pick-six. She also had a 16-yard touchdown reception.

The South’s lone score came late in the first half when Livingston’s Olivia Costa connected with Aynoor Bains of El Capitan in Merced for a 32-yard touchdown.

Pitman’s Ivy Butler added another highlight for the South with an interception, and was later named the team’s Most Inspirational Player. Manteca’s Kiera McCulley also earned the title of Most Inspirational Player for the North.

Laten Butler from Edison in Stockton was named the North’s Most Inspirational Player in the big win in the tackle game, while Laten Butler won the award for the South.

— Jonamar Jacinto contributed to this report.