Les Schwab Bowl gives recent transfer (Grant to West Linn) Stephen del Giudice II one last game under beloved coach John Beck
By Dan Brood
Inspiration.
Stephen del Giudice II has plenty of it, and he’ll definitely be filled with inspiration when he takes the field Saturday night at the Les Schwab Bowl.
For one thing, the junior-to-be lineman will not only be representing Team Willamette in the high school football all-star contest, which will be played at Linfield University in McMinnville, but he’ll also be representing his new school, West Linn, after transferring from Grant.
But that’s just a small part of del Giudice’s inspiration.
In his two seasons with the Generals, earning first-team all-Portland Interscholastic League honors as an offensive lineman last fall, del Giudice played under Grant head coach John Beck. In March, Beck resigned from his coaching post.
“Coach Beck, he’s like family to me,” del Giudice said. “We had moved out to West Linn, and the drive to Grant was a lot. So, after he left, it felt like a time for a new beginning. I still love Grant. I’ve still got (lots of) family over there, but West Linn is just closer and easier, and it’s a good program,”
Now, as it turns out, del Giudice gets to play one last game under Beck, who is one of the assistant coaches for the Willamette squad.
“It means a lot,” del Giudice said of being on the sideline with Beck one more time. “I already know I’m going to get emotional afterward. The last time I saw him, I got a little choked up. He’s really like family to me. I see him all the time outside of football. It’s going to be interesting having him coach me one last time, one last time under those lights.”
But del Giudice has even more inspiration — inspiration he has every game — from his late grandfather, Tyler del Giudice.
“My grandfather really means a lot to me,” del Giudice said. “I’ve got him tattooed right here (his left pectoral area). It’s for him. He’s such an inspiration to me. He lost his leg, but he still did everything, and more, than anyone would expect him to. He’s just a symbol of resilience to me.”
And del Giudice will have that symbol of resilience on the field with him Saturday.
“I play every down for him,” del Giudice said. “He’s always in my mind before every game. Subconsciously, he’s with me all the time out there. Yes, sir, he’ll be out there with me Saturday night, for sure. He’s a big piece of my life and a big piece of everything I do.”
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound del Giudice also is looking to excel as a member of a close-knit group of Team Willamette linemen.
“I have a better connection with these linemen, and I just met them, than anyone else on the team,” he said. “Linemen are special. We’re all about chemistry; we’re all about connections. That’s what really matters.”
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This year’s Les Schwab Bowl, presented by Express Employment Professionals, and serving as a fundraiser for various youth charities, includes many of the top players from around the state, including underclassmen, as well as a player from southwest Washington. This is the 74th game in the series, but the first that won’t be North vs. South. Instead, players were drafted by Team Columbia head coach Steve Pyne, who led Central Catholic to the 2021 Class 6A state championship, and Team Willamette head coach Dan Lever, who guided Tualatin to the Class 6A title tilt.
Saturday’s event begins with tailgating at 2 p.m., featuring Golden Valley Brewing, Stoller Family Wine and more. Gates open at 4 p.m., with kickoff slated for 6 p.m.
Tickets for the game can be purchased online, at lesschwabbowl.com/tickets. The game also can be streamed online, at a cost of $10, at lesschwabbowl.com.
