Prep Blog

The Optimist All-Star football game still has staying power. There isn't a longer running all-star game west of the Mississippi. And the alumni list reads like a who's who roster of all-time area greats.

The 53rd annual game is Saturday at American River College, 7 p.m.

Here's a closer look:

Virgil Carter, Folsom, 1963
For a fellow who wasn't even initially picked for the game, not a bad career. Carter joined the Optimist as a fill-in and he guided the Sacramento County stars to a 21-8 win over the Northern California stars. He went on to BYU and played in the NFL.

Artimus Parker, Sacramento, 1970The anchor to some of the greatest Sacramento High teams - and there were a bunch - the guy who went by "T" became a consensus All-American defensive back for USC, a star for one of college football's most famed teams (1972). The NFL's first big safety, he played four NFL seasons.

Craig Penrose, Woodland, 1971
He keyed a 10-0 Woodland team in 1970, including an epic triumph over Cordova. Later, he excelled in Don Coryell's pass-heavy offense at San Diego State. He played four seasons as a Denver backup - including Super Bowl XII - before joining the United States Football League.

Jim Breech, Sacramento, 1974
Breech got the invite to this game because there was a sudden need for a kicker after Butch Edge of El Camino was drafted in the first round of the major league draft as a flame-throwing phenom. Breech got the call, earned a scholarship to Cal then enjoyed a 14-year pro career that included 243 field goals and a near MVP in the Super Bowl (blame Joe Montana's late heroics).

Eason Ramson, Christian Brothers, 1974
A man-child at CBS, Ramson caught passes from Jeff Tisdel. He played at Washington State and logged seven NFL seasons, five with the 49ers.

Joe Rose, Marysville, 1975
The big time tight end talent from a tiny school, Rose still holds the Optimist receiving record of 183 yards. He played at Cal and was a member of two Miami Dolphins teams that played in the Super Bowl.

Tony Eason, Delta, 1978
The state Small School Player of the Year who powered an 11-0 Sac-Joaquin Section title romp played at American River College before emerging as a first-round pick out of Illinois as part of the famed '83 QB Draft that included John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly and lifetime pal Ken O'Brien. Eason led the New England Patriots to Super Bowl XX.

Bo Eason, Delta, 1979
Tony's younger brother was every bit of an impact player in high school and college, hammering foes as a safety. He was an All-American at UC Davis and logged four NFL seasons before going on to a career as an actor.

Charles Mann, Valley, 1979
Mann was a classic late bloomer, a scholar who was urged to give football a try by Valley coach Dave Hoskins. Once Nevada coach Chris Ault saw Mann on film, a scholarship was in order and a career was born. The defensive end played in four Super Bowls, winning two with Washington and one with the 49ers.

Don Rogers, Norte Del Rio, 1980
The best football talent to come from a school that wheeled out quite a few, Rogers was a superb option quarterback, though he was especially skilled as a defensive back. He became an All-American free safety at UCLA and the MVP of the 1983 Rose Bowl Player when he delivered one of the hardest hits in bowl history, against Michigan. Rogers was a first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, a rising star. His cocaine overdose death in 1986 still hovers as the darkest of dark clouds in Del Paso Heights as those who knew him still can't comprehend his end.

F.P. Santangelo, Oak Ridge, 1985
F.P. was a superb receiver in high school, scholarship worthy who happened to be even better in baseball. He hammered out a long major league career, including a stint with the Giants and A's.

Tedy Bruschi, Roseville, 1991
Still the best defensive prep player - or lineman, too - I have seen, and The Bee's No. 1 all-time player from a list we put together in 2000. He became a two time All-American at Arizona, the NCAA's all-time sack leader and a three time Super Bowl winner for the New England Patriots.

J.T. O'Sullivan, Jesuit, 1997
He led Jesuit to its first Sac-Joaquin Section title, in 1995, the graduated from UC Davis as the all-time leader in passing yards and total yards in earning Division II West Region Offensive Player of the Year his senior season. Has been a very reliable NFL backup, though he started most of last season with the 49ers.

Seneca Wallace, Cordova, 1998
He was recruited to play all sorts of skill positions and defense but he wanted to play quarterback, his love, and he did so in setting records during and All-American career at Sacramento City College and then making a run at the Heisman Trophy at Iowa State. A very solid backup with the Seattle Seahawks.

Donte Stallworth, Grant, 1998
As good as he's been in college and the NFL as a receiver, he was amazing as a defensive back for Grant, including earning Bee Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1997.

Lance Briggs, Elk Grove, 1999
The Bee's Player of the Year in 1998 when he powered Elk Grove to a 14-0 season as a hard-charging fullback and instinctive and destructive linebacker, Briggs was superb at linebacker at Arizona. He is a four-time Pro Bowl stopper now with the Chicago Bears.

Onterrio Smith, Grant, 1999
Smith's senior season in 1998 included setting a bounty of regional, NorCal and state records in rushing and scoring. Major recruit who played for Tennessee and Oregon and for a spell in the NFL. Still the most prolific, relentless and entertaining back in regional history.

David Ball, Dixon, 1999
For a small-school wonder, Ball sure could pack a punch as a lineman, as did his twin brother, Mat. Both made big plays in the Optimist game and then had superb careers in the trenches.

Paul Pinegar, Woodland, 2000
The former Wolves star led Fresno State to three bowl victories and passed for 10,136 yards as a four-year starter.