Mote wraps up a celebrated career in Lions All-Star game

“It was fourth down,” said Calaveras High School head Coach Jason Weatherby. “And it was make-or-break time for us.”

The date was Nov. 21, 2008, and the scoreboard read: Escalon 28, Calaveras 23.

There was under a minute to play and the traveling Redskins were on the Cougars’ 10-yard line. 

Redskin quarterback Nick Baatrup took the fourth-and-eight snap.

“We ran the option play to the right,” Weatherby recalled, “and Nick was going down so he pitched the ball to where he thought Jake Mote would be.”

Mote, one of the top all-time running backs in the storied history of Calaveras football, was indeed in the right place, and snagged the pitch nine yards from the endzone.

Looking forward, Mote saw two Cougar defenders in front of him

Boom!

Mote barreled over defender No. 1.

Boom!

Down went defender No. 2.

“It was amazing!” said Weatherby. “Jake just went right through them.”

Mote romped into the endzone and the Redskins, after a 2-point conversion, led 31-28.

“That play right there by Jake Mote was the highlight of my year,” said Calaveras tailback Steven Klith. “That run was insane.”

Escalon did end up scoring on a heart-breaking, near-miraculous 82-yard pass with 13 seconds left which ended the Skins’ season.

“But that touchdown was such a great way for Jake to finish out his Redskin career,” said Weatherby. “The emotions were unbelievable. Jake always had a lot of heart. And when things got tough, Jake got going.”

Mote will finish out his high school athletic career on Saturday night, as a member of the North squad in the 36th Annual Lions All Star Football Classic.

“I think this football game will mean the most to me,” said Mote. “I’m playing football for the last time with a great bunch of guys, including my teammate Steven Klith. But what also means so much to me is that my dad (Kevin) played in this All Star game in 1982 as an offensive tackle. And I’ll be wearing the same jersey he wore.”

In his three varsity seasons as the Skins’ starting fullback, Mote gained 2,190 yards with a remarkable average of 6.1 yards-per carry.

And Mote has forever etched a spot in Calaveras football lore for bone-crunching hits delivered from his middle linebacker spot.

“Jake was always such a physical football player and I have nothing but respect for him,” said four-year Bret Harte head coach Scott Edwards. “In the Mother Lode Leage, you can judge runners and linebackers by the ‘Green Grass Theory.’ When you’re on offense, it doesn’t matter where the hole is: As a runner you are supposed to find the open green grass and hit it. And that was Jake Mote, the runner.

“But that carried over for Jake as a linebacker. When he’d see that the runner saw an opening ... well, that green grass turned into a cloudy vision in a real hurry. When Jake, the middle linebacker, saw green grass, he filled the hole aggressively and always delivered a good blow to the runner.”

The Redskins won the MLL title in Mote’s sophomore and junior years, and defeated arch-rival Bret Harte in all three of his varsity seasons.

But ‘The Big Game’ has been well contested since Edwards’ arrival in Angels Camp in 2006, and that was something not lost on Mote.

Which is why after the Skins defeated Bret Harte in the 2008 regular-season finale, 35-24, Mote made a quick dash over to the Frogs’ sideline.

“It’s a tough moment for me as a coach,” said Edwards, “and I look up and here comes the top dog of Calaveras running across the field to give the enemy coach a hug and to shake my hand. That says so much about the character of Jake Mote. He’s represented Calaveras so well over the years as an athlete, and I’ve grown to appreciate him, even more so, as a person.”

“After that game, I just felt I should go congratulate Coach Edwards on a good game, and what he’s done for Bret Harte,” said Mote. “I have a lot of respect for him and that game was played in such a great atmosphere.”

Mote led the MLL in scoring with 17 touchdowns in 2008, and on the diamond this spring, led the league in hitting with a .540 batting average.

This fall, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Mote will swing the bat and man centerfield for San-Joaquin Delta College.

“I love football,” he said. “But baseball is my passion. I’m joining a team that was second in the state this year.”

Ever the competitor, Mote adds, “Next year, we’re going all the way.”

But first there’s one more opportunity for Mote to represent Calaveras, and that’s Saturday night at Stagg Field.

“The Redskin jersey always meant so much to me,” said Mote. “My Dad, my uncle, my grandpa and Coach Weatherby all played for Calaveras. It’s awesome that I got to do that, too.”

Early this week in practices on the campus of The University of the Pacific, Mote secured a starting linebacker position for Saturday’s contest.

Said Scott Swartz, McNair High head coach, who will lead the North, “I remember watching Jake practice for the KCRA All Star Game in Sacramento in December with some of my own kids that play for me. And my kids say, ‘Hey, Coach, you’ve got to take this kid Mote for the Lions’ Game. His nose is always bleeding, he’s always going 100 MPH and he’s always hitting somebody.’

“So, we’ll have Jake in a position where’s he’s gonna knock some people down. And why not? ... Jake Mote is a total butt-kicker in every single thing that he does.”