L.A. Tops Orange County in Football All-Star Game

The first Los Angeles County-Orange County high school football all-star game Saturday started 30 minutes late, was delayed about seven minutes moments after it started, and had about 5,000 fewer fans than the promoter expected.

Then, with the offenses playing at a sleepy pace, Los Altos quarterback Felipe Aguilar threw downfield. And Justin Phinisee made something happen.

Phinisee pulled down the pass between two defenders and outran a third 40 yards to the end zone for a 77-yard touchdown reception that gave L.A. County a 7-0 victory in front of about 1,000 spectators at Cerritos College.

Phinisee’s reception with 4 minutes 54 seconds left in the first half provided a rare offensive highlight. It was the first time the L.A. offense had gone past midfield.

Phinisee, a Downey High graduate who reports to Oregon in about a week, was the San Gabriel Valley most valuable player. Aguilar’s pass might have been intercepted by La Habra’s Jonathan Tapia or Cypress’ Robert Clark, but Phinisee emerged from the trio of players, and outran Cypress linebacker Matt Ziemer to the end zone.

“I picked out one of our best athletes and just threw it up to see what he could do,” said Aguilar, who completed 12 of 14 passes for 152 yards.

Phinisee, named the L.A. team’s most valuable player, had three receptions for 93 yards. Newport Harbor’s Chris Manderino, who rushed 11 times for 50 yards, was the Orange County MVP.