Defenses dominate White team’s 12-9 win over Green in Tri-County All-Star football game

It’s pretty fitting that the recent Tri-County All-Star Game was a defensive gem.

The high school football seniors only had about three days to practice together as a unit, said Piner coach John Antonio, who led the White team to a 12-9 victory over the Green team on Dec. 26 at Piner.

The game, now in its third year, included 76 seniors from Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties in an exhibition that is meant to raise awareness for foster children and their needs, especially after they age out of the system when they turn 18.

It’s run by Idaho resident Matt Williams, who runs Wanna Play College Sports, a 12-year-old recruiting program to assist high school athletes win college scholarships.

“It was a great event,” Antonio said. “It was very defensive, which you might expect. Attendance was huge. There was probably a couple thousand people there.”

The fans were treated to some quality football and a couple of big plays - including a game-ending goal-line stand.

The Green side scored first, on a 37-yard field goal by Drake High School kicker/quarterback Kevin Miles in the first quarter.

The White team, made up of all Sonoma County players except one from Calistoga, scored on a 34-yard touchdown pass from prolific Rancho Cotate quarterback Gunner Mefferd to sure-handed Schuyler Van Weele of Analy.

In the fourth, Miles struck again, running a keeper 90 yards to put Green up, 9-3.

But Van Weele and Mefferd struck again for a 24-yard score and a 12-9 lead.

Green powered downfield in its final possession, though, and looked to be on the edge of a last-minute win with a pass play that took them to the 1-yard line.

But a fumbled snap, with a White recovery, sealed the game.

Van Weele was named the game’s most valuable player and was given a $500 scholarship, as was the Green team’s Robert Krist of Petaluma High.

Krist, a tight end, is the son of Petaluma coach Rick Krist, whose family adopted Robert after starting as foster parents.

The athletes, who pay $150 for their uniforms, typically get sponsors or help, Antonio said, and are given a grab bag of gear and supplies. Williams selects the players after they are nominated by their coaches.

“A lot of kids had played together in youth football, so it was nice to end their careers playing on the same team,” Antonio said. “Not one kid had an ego. It wasn’t about who got more snaps, who played more. It was about their team, which was cool. That’s why they’re there, because they’re leaders on their teams.”

Williams said his organization is looking for foster children who are aging out of the system who need help financially. They also want to partner with companies that deal with foster-adopted kids, he said.

Williams can be reached at 208-371-6479 or through his website, www.wannaplaycollegesports.com.

You can reach Lori A. Carter at 521-5470 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.