North Faces a Big Challenge in Tonight’s All-Star Game : Prep football: Huge offensive line, Blanton’s passing help make South a heavy favorite at OCC’s LeBard Stadium.

The South’s size advantage will be tested by a quick North team at 7:30 tonight in the 33rd Orange County all-star football game at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

South Coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei has put together an offensive line that averages 269 pounds. The figure would have been higher, but the South’s second-biggest lineman--290-pound Alfredo Diaz of Dana Hills--strained his knee in practice Wednesday and will miss the game.

Record-breaking quarterback Billy Blanton of Mater Dei figures to get plenty of time to pass with all the help up front. Blanton set county records with 3,545 yards and 36 touchdown passes in leading the Monarchs to the Southern Section Division I championship.

Rollinson predicted the South would pass 50 or more times with his passing-catching tandem of Blanton and tight end David Knuff in the lineup.

“We’re going to put on a show,” Rollinson said. “We’re playing 15-minute quarters and the ball’s going in the air. But when it’s all said and done, the game’s going to come down to defense.

“Can the North put some pressure on Billy Blanton and stop our passing game? Can the South contain the speed of the Alexander (Korey and Kevin) twins?”

The last time Mater Dei took the field, it really was a show. The Monarchs upset the nation’s top-ranked team, Rialto Eisenhower, 35-14, in front of 33,204 at Anaheim Stadium. Blanton passed for 257 yards that night.

The North, listed by area sportswriters as three-touchdown underdogs in the annual charity game, will try to contain Blanton’s receivers with a strong secondary. The North also might recall last year’s 16-13 upset when its strong defense knocked El Toro quarterback Rob Johnson out of the game in the first series.

“My biggest fear is the South’s physical size and the idea that Blanton could get all night to throw the ball,” said North Coach Jeff Buenafe of Garden Grove. “I watched Blanton on film in three games and he’s so impressive. He throws the ball so well.”

The North hadn’t won in the series since 1987, but scored a big upset last year behind defensive players Leonard Sims and Chris Singletary of Rancho Alamitos. This year, the North will rely on linebackers Jason Wright of Loara and Chris Braun of Villa Park.

Braun has been the most impressive defensive player in the camp and Wright hasn’t been shy when it came time to fire up his teammates during the three-week practice.

“Jason Wright is the personality of this team,” Buenafe said. “He’s a real live wire. I think he’s made believers out of a lot of his teammates who wondered if this team could play with the South’s stars.”

Buenafe, who led the Argonauts to an undefeated regular season in his third year at Garden Grove, has installed a ball-control offense headed by Brea-Olinda’s Jason Luevanos.

“Our offense is geared toward ball control with a short passing game and hopefully we get some time-consuming drives,” Buenafe said. “The idea is to keep the ball out of Billy Blanton’s hands.”

The Alexanders, the fastest players in the county, should make their presence felt on both sides of the line. They’ll also return punts and kickoffs.

If there’s a sleeper in the game, it could be Capistrano Valley running back Allan Perlas. Perlas was a replacement for Laguna Hills’ David Webber but has been effective in the South’s backfield.

Orange County All-Star Football Starting Lineups

NORTH OFFENSE TE Adrian Ioga Garden Grove WR Eric Stevens Pacifica WR Gilbert Arriola Brea-Olinda T Brandon La Graffe El Dorado T Yannis Pappas Canyon G Matt Issy Esperanza G Bryant Jackson Loara C Jim Schoales Buena Park QB Jason Luevanos Brea-Olinda TB Korey Alexander Valencia FB Garrick Emry Esperanza K Fred Romo El Modena NORTH DEFENSE E Lia Togia Rancho Alamitos E Ellis Williams Villa Park T Matt Hauk Los Alamitos T James Cabral Rancho Alamitos NG John Ledieff La Habra LB Jason Wright Loara LB Jason Braun Villa Park CB Ryan Roskelly Valencia CB Kevin Alexander Valencia SS Fred Romo El Modena FS Marco Dominguez Los Alamitos P Jamie Baraglia Brea-Olinda

Coach: Jeff Buenafe, Garden Grove

SOUTH OFFENSE TE David Knuff Mater Dei WR Eric Fegraus Laguna Beach WR Jason Bailey El Toro T John Grootegoed Mater Dei T John Housman Marina G Justin Polosky Edison G Mike Bolster Huntington Beach C Jeff Palone El Toro QB Billy Blanton Mater Dei TB Josh Ireland Santa Margarita FB Brandon Finney Newport Harbor K Nathan Morreale University SOUTH DEFENSE E David Knuff Mater Dei E Kevin Pola Santa Ana T John Pugh Trabuco Hills T Matt Keneley Mission Viejo NG Chris Miller El Toro LB David Erikson Dana Hills LB Dan West Capistrano Valley CB Aaron Herr Irvine CB Marcus Jenkins Dana Hills SS Josh Ireland Santa Margarita FS John Khamis Edison P Nathan Morreale University

Coach: Bruce Rollinson, Mater Dei