But both? At the same time?

“That’s what makes this one that much more special,” the New England Patriots tight end told the Bay Area News Group this week.

A decade after his first Super Bowl ended in heartbreak, as a rookie on the Falcons team that infamously let a 28-3 lead slip away, the San Mateo native, now 31, said this time he is “definitely smelling the roses more. … I don’t know how many years I’ve got left.”

Come Sunday, Hooper will be the only player on either side of New England’s Super Bowl 60 matchup against the Seahawks to take the field at Levi’s Stadium in front of his hometown fans.

A fortunate 15 family members will be in attendance. Everyone else, including his coach at De La Salle, Bob Ladouceur, will be tuning in from home. Or, in Lad’s case, “on my huge TV,” the happily retired coaching legend chuckled, recounting his four years with a teenage Hooper, which were also his last on the sidelines.

“I’m real proud … it’s really kind of cool,” Ladouceur said. “He learned how to be a football player at De La Salle.”

When Hooper arrived on the Catholic school’s Concord campus in 2008, Ladouceur estimated he tipped the scales at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. Now, Hooper is listed at 6-foot-4, 254 pounds.

The physical maturation is evident as ever each summer when Hooper’s NFL-sized frame is contrasted against De La Salle’s current group of high school athletes. For a couple weeks every offseason, Hooper still takes part in the Spartans’ conditioning program, current coach Justin Alumbaugh said.

“And he has words for kids, too,” when he outraces their fastest players, Alumbaugh said. “Which I appreciate. … I mean, come on, to come back and run gassers, tires and track with his former high school team, out of the kindness of his heart, I’m not making it up. It’s real.”

Informed of Alumbaugh’s tales of his superiority in the conditioning drills, Hooper smiled modestly.

“I’m supposed to beat kids that are 17 years old,” he said. “But yeah, I go back and train and push myself, just go about it my own way. If the young guys want to work with me, cool. If you want to keep up with me, go for it.”

According to Alumbaugh, Hooper has been even more hands-on than he lets on. He will participate in their 7-on-7 drills on the scout team and lend his positional expertise to all of De La Salle’s tight ends, most recently Landon Cook, who signed with Oregon State.

“Showing our tight ends how to create space, things like that,” Alumbaugh said. “I’m like, ‘Guys, I don’t think you know what’s happening right now.’ … It’s pretty incredible to see somebody of his stature give back in the way that he does.”

While Hooper’s football mortality may be on his mind, a decade-long career as a tight end, with two Pro Bowl nods, wasn’t exactly an outcome Alumbaugh envisioned when he met him at 15 years old.

A blue-chip prospect who eventually chose Stanford, where the Patriots happen to be practicing this week, it was a “coin flip” whether Hooper would pursue the offensive or defensive side of the ball, Alumbaugh told recruiters back then.

After all, Ladouceur and Alumbaugh agreed that Hooper’s most memorable game with the Spartans came as a defensive end, in their 2012 state championship game against Centennial.

“He did a lot of damage when he was on our defense,” Ladouceur said. “He was quick off the ball, he was strong and no running backs could block him.”

De La Salle’s two-way players would typically take some snaps off on one side of the ball, but Ladouceur said, “I didn’t want him coming off the field.”

On offense, in De La Salle’s run-heavy veer system, Hooper played a “critical” role, Ladouceur said, setting blocks for their ground game but also keeping defenses on their toes with play-action passes.

“So he did a lot of blocking,” Ladouceur said. “But he did a lot of route-running, too.”

In other words, setting the foundations for a career as an NFL tight end.

Plenty of De La Salle alumni populate the professional ranks, and the program’s blood typically runs deep, but with Hooper, Alumbaugh said, “that’s a very dark blood right there, that’s very deep.”

Ladouceur sees De La Salle’s lasting impact on Hooper in every facet of his game: The weightlifting program led by a Division I strength and conditioning coach, the Xs and Os that established them as a national powerhouse, the life lessons instilled by the coaching staff.

When Hooper was posed the same question, he leaned toward the latter.

“Probably selflessness, the ability to think about the team first and not do what’s required but do what’s necessary,” he said. “It definitely left a lasting impression on me, so I always feel the need to give back.”

After a career spent between Atlanta and New England, Hooper’s roots just might shine brightest in his pre-Super Bowl diet.

“I’ve just been eating a lot of Mexican food since I got back here,” he said.

Having been a part of the Pacific Grove High coaching staff for two-plus decades — the past five as the head football coach, Gray announced during lunch period to his players that he was stepping down.

“There were some tough goodbyes,” Gray said. “It was a little sad. The way I put it to the kids, I thought it was time for some new energy for them.”

Taking the reins of the program during the height of the pandemic, Gray went 22-18 in four full seasons, just missing the playoffs in 2023 with a 7-3 overall record.

“We didn’t make the playoffs, we didn’t win ‘The Shoe,’” Gray said, referring to The Shoe Trophy awarded to the winner of the Carmel-PG game. “Maybe it’s time for someone else to get it done. I wasn’t sure I could give 100 percent to the program mentally any longer.”

A lot of personal reasons went into Gray’s decision, including an illness to his father Andy – who was on his staff – last October. Gray also recently became engaged.

“I do want to spend more time with my dad,” Gray said. “Last year was the first time he was not able to finish a season in 50-plus years. And my fiancée and I want to travel. Football is a commitment.”

While Gray began contemplating retiring after the Breakers’ season finale last fall, he didn’t want to make a hasty decision. Clearly, he still has passion for the game. Yet, the fire was flickering.

“I just didn’t think I’d be all there,” said Gray, who made out the schedule and made sure the equipment was refurbished. “I didn’t want to regret it in October. It wouldn’t be fair to the players.”

Gray is the third coach in the county who won’t be returning, joining Ben Ceralde, who resigned at North Salinas, and Ben Newman, who was not retained at Alvarez. Both those positions have been filled.

“It was definitely a surprise,” Pacific Grove athletic director Dan Powers said. “Our desire was for Coach Gray to continue as our football coach. He coaches for the right reasons. He’s an old school coach.”

A search will immediately begin at Pacific Grove, with no timetable to name a replacement. At least two coaches on Gray’s staff have expressed interest, while other outside interest has already surfaced.

“It’s a pretty desirable position,” Powers said. “We feel there is more than enough time. Ideally, we’d like to have someone on campus. That might not be the case based on openings in the district.”

Gray has been a physical education teacher at Forest Grove Elementary, which is adjacent to the high school campus, for 35 years.

Before becoming the Breakers’ head coach, Gray had two stints as the program’s offensive coordinator, including 2014-2019 before taking the head coaching job.

Gray also served as a varsity baseball coach for 14 years from 1992-2005, capturing three Mission Trail Athletic League titles and two Central Coast Section Division III crowns.

“He’s had a great run as a baseball coach and was an excellent football coach,” said Powers, who is also the school’s basketball coach.

Over the past three years, Pacific Grove has shot out of the gates, going a combined 13-2 in the first half of the season, but just 3-12 in the second half of the year, as injuries depleted a roster of fewer than 30 players.

Pacific Grove hasn’t been to the postseason since 2019 and hasn’t won ‘The Shoe’ since 2014, when Gray began his second stint as the program’s offensive coordinator.

“That’s not my entire reason for stepping down,” Gray said. “I realized there is a finality to what I want to do. I didn’t want my mind wandering elsewhere. I didn’t even tell my dad what I was thinking.”

While the thought of not preparing for a Friday night game will take some getting used to, Gray said that is not what he’ll miss the most about coaching.

“I’ll miss talking non-football stuff with the kids,” Gray said. “What’s going on in their lives, what happened that particular day in school. I’ll miss showing up to practice.”

“I still have the same feeling when I played in it as a coach,” the Alisal football coach said. “I hold this game in such high regard and prestige. I want it to be a big event as it should be.”

Estrada jumped at the chance to coach the game for the second straight year, as he’ll guide one squad in the 40th annual Central Coast All-Star football game on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas.

The event will feature 80 seniors from throughout the Pacific Coast Athletic League, split into two teams, with Rancho San Juan’s Andrew Zarate coaching the other side.

“I’ve assisted in the past,” Zarate said. “I’ve worked with the committee for the last five years. I felt it was my time to take the lead and give back to the community.”

As emotionally tied to the game as Estrada is, he taken a different approach with his tone in his second time as a coach.

“Last year I had to scale back my emotions,” Estrada said. “There was so much we were trying to do in one week. I’m really enjoying it this time and making sure the players are honing into that.”

Four practices of 90 minutes is a short amount of time to implement a system. Still, both coaches talked about opening the game up and putting on a show with the core of players assembled.

“We’re throwing in a real offense,” Zarate said. “The kids have followed the language. It shows how talented these kids are. The Soquel kids have an IQ like no other for the game.”

Zarate will lean on Stevenson quarterback Fin Mink and Hollister’s Cruz Raquet to move the ball downfield.

Mink threw for a school record 2,546 yards and 33 touchdowns last fall for 9-2 Stevenson, with 13 of those touchdown passes going to teammate Caden Olson.

Both members of The Herald’s All-County team, Olson caught 70 passes for 1,068 yards, averaging just under 15 yards a catch.

Zarate’s receiving corps includes North Salinas’ Canelo Gonzales, North County’s Jake Silva and St. Francis’ Jacob Jimenez, who collected 78 catches between them, while Pacific Grove’s Garrett Kuska can line up in the backfield or in the slot.

“Both quarterbacks can sling it,” Zarate said. “And Kamari (Hunter) is an explosive tailback with an attitude. He reminds me a little of his older brother Nyziah.”

Estrada will have arguably the most dynamic player in the county from last fall on his roster in Alisal’s Jayden Durate, who collected 41 touchdowns last year.

Duarte finished with over 3,400 all-purpose yards, rushing for 1,836 yards and 31 touchdowns, while adding nearly 800 receiving yards and throwing for just under 500 yards.

“Jayden will spend time all over the field,” Estrada said. “We’re going to use him in a variety of ways.”

Duarte, who also had two interceptions he returned for touchdowns, could line up in the slot, alongside Monterey’s Kye Vaughn, Palma’s Jaden Paul and Salinas’ Anthony Cimino, forming a dynamic receiving combination.

The 5-foot-10 Duarte will share carries with Monterey’s Ethan Bonilla and Salinas’ Brandon Palma, with Alisal’s Hector Politron expected to start behind center.

“Not only can we, but we will open it up,” Estrada said. “We want to put on a show with these athletes. People aren’t going to be disappointed.”

That includes the defensive side of the ball where 275-pound Jackson Silacci-Jenson of Salinas and 6-4 Kat Tautolo of Monterey created havoc in the trenches last fall.

Members of The Herald’s All-County team, both were disruptive forces last year, while Alisal’s Xavier Estrada and Salinas’ Miles Urquides fly around in the secondary.

“The biggest thing for me is making sure these kids are enjoying the moment,” Estrada said. “It is the last time some of these guys will put on a helmet. I want them to understand the magnitude and honor it is for me to coach them.”

Zarate, who will begin his second season this fall at Rancho San Juan, added North County’s Juan Cuevas and newly hired North Salinas coach Mark Ramos and Alvarez coach Jason Chacon to his all-star staff.

“It’s nice to bounce ideas off them and learn as a coach as well,” Zarate said. “I want these kids to have the best possible experience. It’s the last time they’ll get to be in a high school environment.”

Zarate has enjoyed the energy players have displayed in practice, with Soquel’s Wyatt Nichols and Hollister’s Salvatore Felice on the defensive side of the ball, along with Seaside’s Jeremiah Laui and his 24 sacks.

“These kids are flying around in practice,” Zarate said. “One kid told me we didn’t hit this hard in our practices. You can’t stop a train when it’s on the track. This has been so much fun to be a part of.”

Three coaches in five years has created instability in the Alvarez High football program.

“This is my third trip around the world doing this,” Alvarez Athletic Director Brian Vasquez said. “With questions come some hard, honest truth. It’s a hard conversation. But it will be had. It’s always for the betterment of the kids.”

Vasquez believes the Eagles have landed someone who will enhance the program for the foreseeable future in naming Jason Chacon as the school’s new football coach.

“For me, his personality, his knowledge of football and connection to the community growing up here was big,” Vasquez said. “His overall demeanor fit what we were looking for.”

Serving as Rancho San Juan’s offensive coordinator last season, Chacon replaces Ben Newman, who wasn’t brought back, despite leading the Eagles to their first winning season since 2014.

“I live in the Creekbridge area,” Chacon said. “I feel I can come in and keep the kids that live in the district here. I have a connection to a lot of these kids.”

In part, because Chacon has been a youth football coach for the Alvarez Titans, where he has coached several of the players expected to return next fall.

“A few have reached out to me, asking how the interview went,” Chacon said. “I haven’t had a chance to have a meeting yet. But it’s been a positive response.”

Chacon, who is helping coach the Central Coast All-Star game this weekend, has talked with some of the seniors from Alvarez, gathered their thoughts on last season.

“I just asked what their issues were last year,” Chacon said. “A lot of it had to do with injuries. I know they have some size coming back. I see a lot of potential.”

Dropped to the Mission Division last year after a decade in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Gabilan Division, the Eagles ran off five straight wins after a season-opening loss to Alisal, before dropping three of their final four, missing the playoffs by a point.

“I do know a lot of these kids,” Chacon said. “I coached a lot of them when they were with the Titans. I have a strong track record. They know what I’m going to bring to the table.”

The 39-year-old Chacon is the third North Salinas graduate that’s a head coach. Rancho’s Andrew Zarate and North Salinas’ Mark Ramos are also alums.

“I’m also related to (Francisco) Estrada at Alisal,” laughed Chacon, who spent a season helping Estrada at the JV level. “It’s a strong connection we have in the community.”

Perhaps the most difficult part of the decision for Chacon is that his son is currently a junior varsity quarterback at Rancho San Juan.

“I have another that’s in the sixth grade,” Chacon said. “It’s their journey. He has friends at Rancho. We’ll always sit down and watch film together.”

While Chacon was hired four weeks after Newman’s dismissal, the program is already three weeks behind in its off-season workouts.

“It was important to get somebody on staff to start up the off-season,” Vasquez said. “But it had to be a good fit. I wanted someone who fits our needs at Alvarez.”

One of Chacon’s first orders of business is establishing a coaching staff. While he will retain some of last year’s staff, the expectation is it will be overhauled.

“I will retain some of the coaches if I feel they’re a fit with our culture,” Chacon said. “I have a 30-day plan. I’ve got some coaches that are coming with me.”

What Alvarez runs next year will be determined by Chacon’s personnel. He’s run multiple styles of offenses throughout his coaching career.

“It doesn’t matter what I know,” Chacon said. “It’s about what the kids grasp. I won’t get stuck or dead set on an offense when it won’t work. Scoring won’t be a problem.”

Alvarez does have one of the more dynamic athletes in the county returning in receiver Jaylen Ward, who had eight touchdowns called back last year because of penalties. The Eagles were one of the most penalized teams in the county.

Defensively, Chacon is looking for a defensive coordinator who is open to running multiple sets, with the ability to adapt to opponents.

“It could be a 4-2-5 or a 4-4, or jump into something else,” Chacon said. “It will depend on our opponent. I do like getting after the quarterback.”

Having spent a year at Alisal before it jumped to the Gabilan Division, Chacon is familiar with the Mission Division.

Three of Alvarez’s four losses last year came in the Mission Division, including losses to league champion King City and playoff-bound Stevenson.

“This is my community,” said Chacon, whose Eagles will open next season hosting Alisal. “It’s my area. This is where I belong.”

Ramos, who has been an assistant football coach at the school for the past 13 years, was named the Vikings’ new head football coach Friday.

“What sold the committee is Mark bleeds red and blue,” North Salinas Principal Mary White said. “He really loves the school. His heart is part of our community.”

A 2009 North Salinas graduate, Ramos has served as the program’s defensive coordinator for the past seven years, engineering a defense that gave up 13 or fewer points in five games last fall.

“I was over the moon today when they (committee) selected me to lead the program into the future,” Ramos said. “Something told me they felt my passion and commitment to the school.”

Ramos is replacing Ben Ceralde, who stepped down after nearly a decade, having guided North Salinas to three straight trips to the postseason — four in the past five seasons.

“I had hoped that both my coordinators would put their names in the hat,” Ceralde said. “He has the youth, the energy. The key to our success over the last few years is that our coaches have been on the same page.”

The 34-year-old Ramos — the second youngest head coach in the county behind Rancho San Juan’s Andrew Zarate — will inherit a program that made the jump to the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Gabilan Division last year, finishing 5-5 overall to extend its playoff run.

“We want to continue to build off the momentum,” Ramos said. “I think our future is looking bright. We have a strong junior class. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Ramos started his coaching career at North Salinas under current Salinas coach Steve Zenk, and has worked with Ceralde for the past eight seasons.

“He was one of those quiet leaders as a player, that did what he was supposed to do,” Zenk said. “I told him during his senior year you should think about coaching and teaching. Here we are.”

After rushing for over 1,200 yards and leading North Salinas to a share of a league title in 2008, Ramos returned to the campus in 2012 as a coach, where he’s been entrenched since.

“I’ve been through the grind,” Ramos said. “The good and the bad. I’ve been working with Ben to try and turn this thing around here. We have some momentum.”

If Ramos was going to take the next journey in his career, he wanted it to be at North Salinas. The timing aligned with his personal life.

“Something in my gut said it’s time to do it,” Ramos said. “I’ve earned my bones and worked my way up. The timing seemed right. I knew the place for me is North Salinas.”

The expectation is that Ramos will retain most of Ceralde’s staff, which is comprised of North Salinas graduates, creating a smooth transition into the off-season program.

“We’ll make some changes on offense,” Ramos said. “I want to find a way to showcase the talent we have. You have to be flexible and adaptable. We had success running the ball. I’d like to be a little more balanced.”

North Salinas will return tailback Dylan Reynoso, who has been a starter since his freshman year, while freshman quarterback Jayden Gutierrez showed promise last fall.

Defensively, incoming junior Nathan Orozco is a two-time member of The Herald’s All-County defensive team as a punishing linebacker.

“A lot of the groundwork and foundation is already in place,” said Ramos, who also started as a safety at North Salinas. “I think for this fall, I’ll continue to call the defense.”

What got the juices flowing for Ramos during the interview process was the support he felt from the players who are returning, as well as the administration.

“What sold me on Mark wasn’t just his passion for the game, but his passion for the students,” White said. “He’s using athletics to make our students become better people. He wants what’s in the best interest of the student.”

Ramos believes the success that North Salinas has attained over the past three years is not only increasing the school’s numbers, but also convincing kids to stay.

“We want people on this side of town to stay home,” Ramos said. “The only way it works is if kids know we’re just as committed and we’re going to pour our hearts into it.”

Ramos’ phone was blowing up throughout the day with players eager to get going with their offseason.

“This junior class will set the tone,” Ramos said. “Kids are excited to get going. Having their full commitment in the off-season is where it starts.”

One of the things Ramos would like to do in the future is establish a freshman program to help develop players with more playing time and reps.

“That’s one of my goals,” Ramos said. “Sometimes freshmen fall by the wayside because we can’t get them the same reps. We have to figure some things out. Our numbers are growing.”

Playing in a league that includes former state champions Palma, Carmel and Soquel, not to mention perennial power Salinas, Ramos embraces the challenge.

“We opened up some eyes last year,” Ramos said. “And we’ll shock some people this season. The goal is to be better than the previous year.”

Alisal head coach Francisco Estrada will guide one side, while Rancho San Juan’s Andrew Zarate will coach the other, which is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

As has been the protocol over the last five years, both teams will practice together Jan. 26-29. The all-star committee has chosen Holding on to Hope, the Monterey County Family Justice Center, as its local charity.

The Central Coast High School All-Star Committee is dedicated to assisting youth in developing the characteristics of citizenship, discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship, and physical and mental well-being through the spirit of youth sports.

Tickets can be purchased at HSAllstars.evenbrite.com. General admission is $15. Students with a school ID is $10, as is anyone 65-over.  All youth players and cheerleaders wearing their youth jersey or cheer jacket is $5. Parking is free.

Rivera, who intercepted 14 passes during the regular season, set up her first touchdown with a pick, catching a pass from Rancho San Juan’s Melony Erazo-Chavez.

The pair hooked up twice, with Erazo-Chavez also finding Carmel four-sport standout Ava Staehle for six to give them a 12-6 lead in the first half.

Rivera, who is among Alisal’s top scorers in basketball this winter, was named the South’s MVP, while Aptos’ Ella Porter was chosen as the MVP for the North team, scoring both its touchdowns.

The game was put on by the Reggie Stephens and Gino Panelli Foundations, two non-profits that are involved in supporting local youth, high school, and college athletes.

Instead, the Eagles head football coach was informed Wednesday morning, before the meeting, by administration that he was being relieved of his duties after two seasons.

“It wasn’t even a five-minute meeting,” Newman said. “I was told they want to go in a different direction. To be honest with you, I’m in shock.”

Newman was informed of the decision by Alvarez Principal Miguel Ocampo and Athletic Director Brian Vasquez.

“Alvarez athletics has made the decision to move in a new direction,” Vasquez said. “We thank Coach Ben Newman for his time, his commitment, and contributions to our student-athletes and the Eagle nation, as we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

A day earlier, Newman was on campus at Alvarez talking to recruiters from Cornell University about All-County junior defensive back receiver Jaylen Ward.

“I didn’t really get a reason,” Newman said. “All I know is that we had our first winning season since 2014. I felt we were headed in the right direction. We have a lot of kids coming back.”

Dropped to the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Mission Division last fall after 12 seasons in the more competitive Gabilan Division, the Eagles posted a 6-4 overall record, missing the playoffs by a half point.

“I’m still trying to comprehend what just happened,” Newman said. “I probably won’t process it all until later tonight. I have a dual wrestling match to focus on.”

Newman is also the Seaside boys and girls head wrestling coach, having guided the boys program to a Cypress Division title last season.

Instead of meeting with his players, Newman sent a message to the players chatroom about his ousting, in which he received 74 responses in the first 15 minutes.

“My only thought is why did they wait until today?” Newman said. “They could have told me last month. I was here yesterday. Three-quarters of my staff came with me. So none of them are coming back.”

For the fourth time in six years, the Eagles are looking for a new head football coach, as the last three coaches’ tenures have lasted exactly two years.

While the Eagles showed improvement under Newman, he did come under fire after a Week 1 game with Alisal when the administration suspended him for one game for an incident.

“I was suspended because administration deemed I was too rough taking a bloodied jersey off one of my players,” Newman said.

Vasquez couldn’t provide any details, saying, “It’s an internal thing. I can’t get into that.”

Newman was also ejected in the season finale in the fourth quarter because of the action of another coach on his staff. Newman was not going to be suspended for a game this coming fall.

Following a season-opening loss to Alisal, the Eagles ran off five straight wins before dropping three of their last four games – two to playoff-bound programs.

The six overall wins surpassed the program’s win total from the previous two years combined. The last time Alvarez won six more games was 11 years ago.

“I had no idea this was coming,” Newman said. “After I was informed of their decision, I just said OK. No reason to argue it. They already had their minds made up.”

Alvarez will begin an immediate search for a new head coach and staff. North Salinas is also looking for a new football coach after Ben Ceralde stepped down in December.

“At this time, the school is focused on supporting its student-athletes and preparing for the season ahead,” Vasquez said. “I do not want the search for a head football coach to go any longer than it has to.”

Newman, a former defensive lineman at Monterey, has had previous stops as an assistant coach at Monterey, Seaside and Marina.

Jan. 11, noon at Aptos High School

South Roster

Coaches: Alyssa Dixon, Marina; Kalah Ishimaru, Salinas, Marisol Rasul, Alisal

Players

Bailey Casarez, Rancho San Juan

Jaslyne Coronado, Salinas

Melony Erazo-Chavez, Rancho San Juan

Alissa Escutia, Salinas

Josie Hanson, Carmel

Maya Ibarra, North County

Calleigh Panziera, Salinas

Mia Rivera, Alisal

Dania Rodriguez, King City

Gracy Ruiz-Gamino, Marina

Jimena Salazar-Camacho, Salinas

Elsie Sargenti, Palma

Ava Staehle, Carmel

Esmeralda Torres, Marina

Eva Vicencio, King City

Irie Williams, North Salinas

North Roster

Coaches: Frank Galvan, St. Francis, Denise Russo, Aptos, Andy Morris, Santa Cruz

Players

Haily Bettermann, Soquel

Shelby Chase, Scotts Valley

Elenah Esquivel, Aptos

Natalia Lapioli, Scotts Valley

Citlali Lopez, Santa Cruz

Amaya Moore, San Lorenzo Valley

Lila Mosley, Scotts Valley

Presley Pastrell, Scotts Valley

Ella Porter, Aptos

Sammy Rebert, Scotts Valley

Daisy Rincon, Pajaro Valley

Leah Serna, Santa Cruz

Ben Sommerville, Santa Cruz

Eliza Stevens, Soquel

Marina Tucker, Harbor

Brooklyn Williams, Scotts Valley

Ivory Woodson, Soquel

The event, which will showcase the top seniors from Santa Cruz County against the elite from Monterey County, will be held at noon at Aptos High.

One side will be sponsored by the Reggie Stephens Foundation, with the other being the Gino Panelli Foundation.

Among those expected to take part include Ava Staehle, who moonlighted in the fall playing field hockey for Carmel, while leading the school’s flag football team in interceptions.

Salinas will be represented by Jaslyne Coronado and Alissa Escutia, who combined for nearly 3,500 receiving yards and 45 touchdowns.

Dania Rodriguez and her 1,200 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns will suit up for King City, along with Elsie Sargenti of Palma and Maya Ibarra of North County.

A skills competition will take place before the game.