HILMAR - One of the things Frank Marques is going to miss being the Hilmar High School football head coach is the brotherhood among fellow coaches in the Trans-Valley League.

Marques will get one more chance facing one of his fellow brothers tonight.

Marques, who retired as head coach after the 2025 season in which he knotted 199 wins in 24 seasons, and Escalon head coach Andrew Beam will be on opposite sidelines of the 50th annual Lions All-Star Football Game.

The game, pitting the best players from Merced to the Lodi areas, is scheduled to kickoff at Wayne Schneider Stadium on the Tracy High School campus at 7 p.m.

Turlock-area football players who are recent high school graduates playing for Marques and the South squad are Turlock offensive tackle/defensive end Levi Cook, Pitman running back Mason Helwick, Hughson running back/middle linebacker Eli Wilbanks and Denair offensive lineman Evan Coronel.

The rest of the South team are players from Mariposa, Merced, Golden Valley, Atwater, El Capitan, Modesto, Downey, Grace Davis, Johansen, Gregori, Enochs, Patterson, Oakdale, Central Catholic, Dos Palos, Los Banos and Stone Ridge Christian.

“The quality of athletes are better because they’re so many schools to choose from,” Marques said. “We’ve got some fantastic athletes.”

Beam, who like Marques is a graduate from his alma mater in 2006, has his North roster filled with players from San Joaquin County and the foothills.

This is Marques’ second all-star football game in as many weeks. In the 3rd annual Merced County All-Star Football Game that was played at Golden Valley High on June 13, Marques and his coaches were in charge of the North. The South came away with a 23-13 victory.

Marques and Beam laid out their basic game plans in terms of formations each plans to run on offense and defense. It’s all about getting the players ready to play in what is not only their final high school football games of their lives - unless they plan to play at a community or four-year college - but their final game of tackle football, period.

“Coach Beam and I agreed to keep it simple,” Marques said. “We gave each other what we’re going to run (on offense and defense). Coach Beam and I agreed we just want to put a good product on the field. Let the kids play and have fun.”

On special teams, Marques said he and Beam have also agreed to keep it simple.

“If we’re going to line up to punt, we’re going to punt,” Marques said. “If we’re going to kick off, we’re going to kick off.”

Marques and the South held their first practice at McSweeney Field on the Hilmar campus on Monday.

“We had a great practice,” Marques said. “Fantastic energy. Great camaraderie.”

Marques is familiar with the Lions game. A 1981 Hilmar graduate, Marques, who was a three-year starter for legendary Hilmar head coach Jerry Van Lengen, who ran the Yellowjacket’s program from 1977 to 1990, played in the 1981 contest. Marques clearly remembers preparing and playing in the ‘81 contest. Practices were held at Stanislaus State, where the South squad and coaches stayed at the dorms.

Today, the South and North teams’ practices lasted only a week. From the start of the game in the 1970s and more than four decades, teams practiced for 10 days and most times twice a day.

Beam, who was the starting quarterback on the 2003 Escalon football team that played Hilmar in a TVL and CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV title games in Marques’ first year as head coach, speaks highly of the now retired teacher, co-athletic director with Paul Willis and coach.

“I place great respect on Coach Marques,” Beam said. “I truly believe he (is) one of the great humans in this game of football and a legend. (Former Escalon football head coach Mark) Lourerio and Marques are both responsible for what I believe is the best rivalry in the section. It’s one that is rooted in respect and one high school town traditions that you just don’t see anywhere else. The demographic and make up each town reflects the same set of values.

“Our two schools and programs have traded blows and have had heartbreak and thrilling victories on each side over the last 26 years that you just don’t see elsewhere. Coach Marques is one of those reasons Escalon vs Hilmar is so special. He does things the right way and it’s an honor to share the field with him one last time.”

Marques added, “One of the things about coaching in the TVL is that we have an outstanding group of men that coach. We have a great rapport. We’ve always had a great working relationship. On Friday nights, when we play each other, it’s a great battle. I’m going to miss working with them.”

Although time ticks closer toward the start of the Lions game, Marques isn’t leaving the game all together. He’s going to be watching his grandsons play on the Hilmar junior varsity football team this upcoming season.

“I’m going to be at all of the Hilmar games,” Marques said. “I’m going to find a nice, quiet place to watch the game. I’m not going to be on the sidelines. I’m just going to be the grandfather that comes and watches his grandkids play football.

Admission for the Lions game is $15.