East doesn’t want to be “that team” to blow win streak in Hall of Fame All-Star Game …

The size advantage typically enjoyed by the East team in the annual SGV Hall of Fame All-Star Game for high school football seniors is alive and well. Only this year it extends beyond the offensive and defensive lines.

Sure, the West is better equipped this year to handle the East’s physicality at the line of scrimmage, but what about on the outside where matching up to specimens like Etiwanda tight end Michael Neal could be a major problem?

“He’s going to probably give the West squad a little bit of difficulty,” East head coach Steve Randall of Colony High said. “He’s something else. At Colony, we don’t really impress that many people with our size, but I’m impressed by the overall speed and size on this team.”

Kickoff for the 36th renewal of the local rivalry between East and West is 7:30 p.m. on Friday night at West Covina High.

Neal is 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. Then there’s Damien receiver Mackenzie Sternquist, who is 6-3, 220. Throw in Rancho Cucamonga’s Blake Fisher at 6-4, 185 and it’s easy to see that the East has an embarrassment or riches on the outside.

Getting them the ball will be La Mirada quarterback Christian Lara and Chino Hills’ Zac Sturdivant. Coaches are hopeful that Wednesday and Thursday’s practices will give them a better idea of what they have in the passing game since last weekend’s practices were marred by a windstorm that hit Southern California.

“It’s was two of the windiest days since I’ve been out here at Colony and these kids made it look flawless out there with their athletic ability,” Randall said. “Our quarterbacks are confident that they can lose one with their throws and these guys will still go up and get it.”

WHAT’S ON THE LINE?

When asked to single what unit had impressed him the most, Randall was quick to say his offensive line. The East is blessed with its usual helping of good size, but Randall likes other things about the group, too.

“What’s really impressed me is the continuity of the whole offensive line,” Randall said “Guys are playing well next to each other and they’ve been there for every practice. Some of them are traveling from the Whittier area, La Mirada and La Habra and they’ve been here and worked hard.

“I’ve been impressed with how they’ve worked together as a group this whole time.”

Led by South Hills guard Josh Radecki (6-4, 315) and La Mirada tackle Angelo Lojero (6-2, 285) the typical big East size is there and could get boosted with the expected return of Glendora’s Ben Northup (6-5, 300), who missed practice last week while on a recruiting trip to Hawaii.

DON’T BE THAT TEAM

The East has built a seven-game win streak in the series and Randall gets the sense his team doesn’t want to be the one to let it end. The will to win in an all-star game is always a question mark, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem for the East.

“We’re all competitive and we don’t want to be that team,” Randall said. “And by ‘that team’ I mean the team that gives up the streak. So we’ve talked about it a little bit. It’s not something we’re really honed in on. But at the same time, who wants to be associated with being the team to lose it for the East side?”