Golden Valley quarterback returning for all-star game after injury ended his season early
Eleazar Garza is expecting about 50 family members to be in the stands at the Lions All-Star Football Game in Tracy on Saturday night.
It’ll be the first time the former Golden Valley High School quarterback takes the field since breaking his leg late in the season last fall.
“They all want to see my first game back,” Garza said. “They all know how hard I’ve been working.”
Kickoff for the 47th Lions All-Star Game is 7 p.m. at Wayne Schneider Stadium on the campus of Tracy High School. The game returns after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The head coach for the South will be longtime Oakdale High School Coach Trent Merzon, who retired after last season.
The South features 15 players from Merced County schools, including Garza, who is eager to put the pads back on for the first time.
The former Cougars quarterback felt he had his season taken away from him prematurely when he broke his leg and his ankle popped out of its socket when he was sacked early in the game against Patterson on Oct. 14.
“Words can’t describe it,” Garza said. “I missed out on a potential state championship, and that eats at my soul. I stay up at nights thinking about it. I can’t sleep. It’s like an itch.”
Golden Valley Coach Rick Martinez said he isn’t surprised Garza is back on the field so soon.
“The kid is the ultimate competitor,” Martinez said. “I’m sure he’s ecstatic to be out there and put the helmet on again.”
Golden Valley started the season 7-0 for the first time in school history leading into the game against Patterson.
Garza threw for 999 yards and 14 touchdowns in eight games. He also ran for 697 yards and 11 more scores and was named the Central California Conference Best Offensive Player by conference coaches.
After initially coming out of the game, Garza tried to play through the pain. However, after a few plays he was eventually taken out for good.
“I knew I had to try to continue in the game,” Garza said. “I had worked my whole life for that moment. The second time I came out I just couldn’t go anymore. When my dad told me I couldn’t go anymore I cried my eyes out. I’ve never done that before. I felt like I went into a depression state because football is all I know and to have it stripped away like that ... .”
Garza’s season was over as he had to watch the Cougars lose three out of their final four games, including a first-round playoff loss.
“I think the outcome of our season is a lot different if he doesn’t get hurt,” Martinez said. “We were 7-0 heading into week eight and battling Patterson. He went down in the first half and we couldn’t regroup.”
Garza said for two weeks he was depressed but that he snapped out of it and realized he needed to focus on his rehab.
“I had a different animal in me when I was rehabbing,” he said. “When I was lifting, running, I did it with a vengeance. I needed to make people understand that I’m going to do what I need to do to get where I want to be.”
Garza said he was ahead of schedule throughout his rehab and already running and playing basketball by February.
He says he feels great now. He’s undecided about what the next step for him in his football journey. He wants to use this all-star game to gauge how healthy he is coming back from the injury.
“I grew up with an old-school dad,” Garza said. “He’s always pushed me mentally and physically. No offense to a lot of kids today, but they are soft. Growing up, I had to be a dog, and I thank my dad for raising me that way. The game means something more to me.”
