Tuioti Injures Knee, Will Miss All-Star Football Game July 8

George Tuioti, a Santa Ana High School linebacker, suffered torn ligaments in his left knee Tuesday while practicing for the Orange County All-Star football game and will miss the game.

Tuioti, who is 6-feet 4-inches tall and weighs 226 pounds, had blood drained from his knee Wednesday and said he would undergo surgery next week.

Mike Spinello of Mission Viejo has been named to replace Tuioti on the South roster. The game will be played July 8 at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

“We were in a seven-on-seven drill at the beginning of practice and George tried to avoid hitting someone,” South Coach Bob Johnson said. “It was a freak thing. We were not doing anything live with any particular hitting. It looks pretty bad.”

Tuioti, who attended Wednesday’s practice on crutches, was a first-team Times All-Orange County linebacker and led Santa Ana to the Century league title. He has signed a national letter of intent to attend USC.