California Has Texas All Messed Up

Don’t mess with Texas?

Since Shrine All-Star Football Classic organizers began pitting teams from California and Texas against each other five years ago, California has humiliated its Texas counterparts.

California has won all five games in the series, by an average score of 20-9. The most lopsided game was in 1997, when California defeated Texas, 31-6.

It looked as if Texas was finally on its way to its first victory last year before Los Alamitos High’s Keenan Howry caught a 37-yard touchdown pass as time expired for a 28-25 victory.

Texas looks to break its maddening string of defeats at 7 tonight in the 49th Shrine All-Star Football Classic at Cerritos College. The game is being televised by Fox Sports Net.

Texas Coach Randall Rodgers, a former University of Texas assistant under John Mackovic, has a special interest in seeing the streak end--he coached Texas to losses in 1998 and ’99. Rodgers figures his team must get its offense in gear to have a chance tonight.

“The problem in this game is always offense,” Rodgers said. “The defense is so simple, you just line up and play. But offense takes timing, and you’ve got guys from different programs. The plays we’re running may be slightly different from what they run [in their high schools].”

Los Alamitos kicker Chris Kluwe and Mater Dei safety Matt Grootegoed will represent Orange County on the California team.

Grootegoed, The Times’ Orange County player of the year, is headed to USC. Last season, he had 95 solo tackles, seven tackles for losses, 11 passes defended, two caused fumbles and six interceptions.

Kluwe connected on 16 of 25 field-goal attempts (five were blocked), including a county record 60-yarder to send a playoff game against Loyola into overtime. The UCLA-bound player also averaged 45.5 yards a punt.