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Durossette coaches North All-Stars
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Coach Bret Durossette and the Ceres High football team accomplished a lot this past season. With Brandon Crawford, Isaiah Beard and Matt Venema leading the way, the Bulldogs finished third in the Central California Conference and secured a berth into the Division I playoffs for the first time in school history.

Durossette, his coaching staff and some of his players are being rewarded for their outstanding effort.

Durossette will coach the North team at the 19th Annual Rotary All-Star Football Game.

"The reason he was selected to coach is because he has a winning record and has done a great job at Ceres High the last couple of years," said Bob Green, game director.

Green asked Durossette if he'd be interested in coaching in October.

"I saw his team play three times when I was scouting coaches," Green said. "I thought Bret and his staff did the best job. They were well organized. They were enthusiastic. The kids seemed to like playing for them."

Said Durossette: "When we were 7-0, the director kept asking me if we'd do it. We committed to it when the season was over."

Durossette accepted Green's offer despite having a busy schedule.

"It's a big commitment," he said.

Durossette is married and has three children. He also teaches summer-school classes and is preparing Ceres High's football program for the upcoming season.

Durossette and his staff, Brett Johnson, Mike Jones, Nick Marchy, Mike Palamino, George Mitsopolous, Bret Silveira and Josh Baker, will coach 43 players, including Crawford, Matt Beard and Venema.

"Those three will represent our school and community real well," Durossette said.

Crawford earned first-team, all-CCC honors on offense. The halfback rushed for 954 yards on 159 carries and scored a school-record 16 touchdowns. He also caught 15 passes for 205 yards.

Crawford declined an invitation to play in a rival all-star game because he wanted to help his former coaches.

"Brandon got selected to play in the Lions game but he's going to play for us," Durossette said. "He's one of our top running backs."

Beard earned first-team, all-CCC honors on offense. The guard was a solid run and pass blocker.

"Isaiah was a three-year varsity starter," Durossette said.

Venema logged a significant amount of playing time at linebacker.

"He did a great job," Durossette said.

The North team started practicing in Chowchilla on June 14. The team's final practice is today at 4 p.m.

Forty high schools will be represented at the all-star game, which is being played at Chowchilla High's Henry Massaro Stadium on Friday at 7:45 p.m.

The North has won the last three games. The South hold a 10-8 advantage in the series.

"It's going to be a great experience," Durossette said.-By DALE BUTLER

Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier