Lincoln stars shine in Optimist game

Jacob Tryon and J.J. Castillo, who graduated from Lincoln High this year, helped the North squad win the 54th annual Optimist All-Star Football Game at American River College on Saturday night.The North won 12-7 as Tryon played on the defensive line and Castillo played tight end. This all-star game is for seniors only and it benefits Camp Ross Relles, for disabled and underprivileged children.Grant's Devontae Booker, who will attend Washington State, scored both touchdowns for the North."It was competitive. There were a lot of good players and it kind of showed our skill level and stuff," said Tryon, 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds. "It was a little bit faster than a high school game, just better players and they are all going on to the next level."Castillo didn't get a chance to catch a pass at tight end but he still enjoyed the experience."Our quarterback never had time to get off a pass . . . (But) I put a couple of kids on their backs (with blocks) – that was my excitement," Castillo said. "It was more like a junior college level game – all those kids are going to the next level. It was a high talent football game."Tryon and Castillo, 6-5 and 255 pounds, will both play college football at Yuba College."I'm really excited – I'm taking summer classes there right now to get ahead on units," said Tryon, who received plenty of attention from other colleges interested in his football skills. "I got a lot of letters and a lot of schools are keeping in touch with me like San Diego State and Nevada and Sac State. And there were recruiters at the Optimist game and they'll probably (contact him). I've got lots of letters – from Utah, Southern Oregon, Humboldt."Southern Oregon offered Tryon a scholarship."I didn't want to go there because it was too far away and I wanted to stay close (to home)," Tryon said. "So I'm going to Yuba and then I will try to go to a Division I (program) or Pac-10 or something after (playing for Yuba)." Castillo is very pleased that he and Tryon will still be teammates in college."I like playing with him on the team," said Castillo, who plans on transferring to either San Diego State or the University of Nevada after playing for Yuba."(There will be) more competition (in practices) against Jake then against a lot of other people."