The562’s football coverage for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Long Beach Poly alums Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
For the second year in a row, the 605 All-Star Game was back last Saturday afternoon, and once again the South All-Stars defeated the North All-Stars, this time by a score of 26-7 at Warren High School.
The 605 All-Star game has been a tradition since 1967, and after its 10-year pause, it resumed in 2025, much to the excitement of local football fans.
All seven Moore League schools were represented on the South roster, with some Wilson players also playing for the North. They were joined by players from Bellflower, Gahr, Cerritos, St. Paul, Valley Christian, and several other area schools.
Despite having only a few practices before the game, both sides showed tremendous athleticism and teamwork as they battled throughout the game.
The South team was coached by Jordan’s head football coach, Alfred Rowe, who just completed his first year as the head coach in J-Town.
“To get a chance to get back in the league and be able to win this, man, it’s everything. We’re all having fun, working hard, and I think it showed as we were able to get the win,” said Rowe.
The South Team started strong with a 60-yard connection from Millikan’s senior QB Ashton Pannell to Lakewood’s Tiwan Jones.
Even though they were stopped on fourth and goal, the South’s defense quickly regained possession, leading to a 55-yard touchdown pass from Lakewood’s Kade Casillas to Tiwan Jones to get the South on the board, 6-0.
Opening the second quarter, Millikan’s Landon Ross had a 24-yard catch and run into North territory, but a penalty against the South and a sack by the North shifted the momentum. The North briefly had possession, but a fumble recovered by Jordan’s Deanthoine Price got the ball back for the South offense.
With less than a minute left in the first half, Jones showed his playmaking ability on defense, intercepting a pass at North’s 50-yard line, keeping the South in control of the game leading into the half.
Jones, an Idaho State commit, displayed his versatility on both defense and offense in his final high school game. The senior had over 100 yards of receiving, a touchdown reception, and a 43-yard kickoff return. He also had multiple pass breakups on defense, and was chosen as the game’s MVP.
“It just shows all the work I put in. I’ve been through a lot in my whole high school career, so to be in the position I am today is a huge blessing,” said Jones.
The Moore League dominated the scoreboard with all five of the games’ touchdowns coming from one of the league’s representatives. The North team’s lone touchdown was scored by Wilson running back Kori Scott, who raced in from 23 yards out to make it a 12-7 game in the third quarter.
“It was really fun,” Scott said, “I can’t really explain it, but I love being a running back and showing out for my parents and my team.”
The South team kept its foot on the gas in the third quarter with Poly’s Jaden Hernandez getting a sack right out the gate, then showing his offensive abilities with a 40-yard catch-and-run, leading to a touchdown pass from Pannell to Jordan’s Marcus Williams, giving the South a 12-0 lead.
To end the third quarter, Bellflower’s Jordan Hunter recovered a fumble to halt the North’s momentum and allow for the South to maintain control. In addition to his fumble recovery, Hunter, a transfer to Bellflower from Wilson, also had an interception, making a significant impact on the game in the second half.
“I know a lot of these guys from the Moore League, so it’s a blessing and privilege to be out here, with the best of the best,” said Hunter.
South finished strong in the fourth quarter, adding two more touchdowns thrown by Pannell, who had three TDs in the second half. He connected with Hernandez for a short TD toss, then connected with former Millikan teammate Landon Ross on a 45-yard exclamation point.
Hunter closed out the game with an interception in the final minutes, sealing the South team’s 26-7 victory.
“I felt like I was 12 feet in the air,” said Hunter of his INT. “When I came down, I figured that was enough for me. I saw a bunch of green to my left, but I ran to the right and thought, ‘I’m clocked out. It’s an all-star game—I got my pick, I made my play, I’m good.”
Jones said he was honored to be selected the game’s MVP, and already had plans for the plaque he was presented postgame.
“It’s crazy,” said Jones. “I get to put this up on my wall and be like, ‘I won MVP in my last high school game.’ I wasn’t expecting it at all.”
With the victory, the South Team extends its winning streak to two consecutive 605 All-Star Games, aiming to keep the momentum going next year. The current plan, according to Coach Rowe, is to host the 2027 edition of the game at Jordan High’s brand new stadium.
“It gives us a chance to show off that campus,” said Rowe of possibly hosting next year’s game. “It’s a great campus and it’s not even done yet. It’s officially unofficial, our principal is all for it, everybody is all for it, so we’re gonna get that thing going and everybody will get to see that new stadium.”
