Whenever the 2012 Mary Star High football team needed a big play, they didn't have to look far.

Senior RB/DB Jake Tedesco would seemingly make a play from out of nowhere to excite the Stars' fans and also light a fire within his teammates.

On one day, it could be a spectacular interception. On another, a game-winning touchdown catch. And just maybe on another day, it could be a long kickoff return.

Whatever it took to get the job done, Tedesco was certainly the man for that dubious task.

Mary Star shocked a lot of people, even some of their own fan base by improving from their dismal 0-10 season of 2011 by going 4-6, finishing with a 3-2 mark for third place in the Del Rey League, and a playoff birth in the CIF-Southern Section Northwest Division, and Tedesco played a prohibitive role in the sudden revival of the Stars.

In fact, it was Tedesco who made the game-winning touchdown against Verbum Dei off a 44-yard touchdown pass from Jeremy Atencio with under two-minutes left for a 20-19 Stars win that ended their 15-game losing streak on September 28 at Los Angeles Southwest College.

Tedesco, who missed two games after suffering a concussion in their season opening 46-0 loss to Aquinas of San Bernandino on August 31, would finish with 276 yards rushing on 52 carries and two touchdowns, while also catching 15 passes for 231 yards and three more touchdowns. Tedesco also had two interceptions on defense and was a major threat on special teams, returning 16 kickoffs for 502 yards, including a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown in the Stars' 54-17 loss to Gladstone of Covina in the CIF-SS Northwest Division first round.

Another great athlete in San Pedro, Tedesco, and All-Del Rey League first team selection, also plays on the soccer and baseball teams at Mary Star High, and is an excellent student.

Good times roll whenever Jake has the ball... don't blink, or he's headed to the house.

(Note: Photo courtesy of Ron Nunez)