ORANGE COUNTY ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME : Salazar Replaces Jaramillo for North

Jose Salazar, an offensive lineman from Servite High School, has replaced Valencia’s Paul Jaramillo on the North roster for the Orange County all-star football game, North Coach Tom Meiss said Wednesday.

When Meiss learned that Jaramillo had decided on Wednesday not to play, he did not hesitate to call Salazar, 5 feet 10 and 190 pounds.

“Earlier this year, Jose read in the paper that he had been nominated for the team and wrote me a nice note thanking me,” Meiss said. “It broke my heart when I called him and told him he was only nominated for the team and hadn’t actually made it. I told him if anyone dropped out, he would be my first choice.”

The North team started practicing Monday for the all-star game, which will be July 6 at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium. The South team will begin practice Monday.

“We’re just out there in shorts going through blocking drills,” Meiss said. “The kids are looking good and have a good work attitude. The only thing I’m disappointed with is some kids are saying at the last minute that they can’t play.”

Meiss said Los Alamitos’ Erik Mitchell has been practicing at cornerback as well as running back, his usual position. Mitchell, 5-10 and 165 pounds, has signed a letter of intent to play at Colorado next season.

“We want the kids to experiment at other positions,” Meiss said. “Erik said he wanted to try it.”