Despite stellar performances by four defensive units – allowing
five touchdowns in the four games – the Hollister Vikings managed
only one win in four games against the Morgan Hill Raiders at Andy
Hardin Stadium on Sunday. Morgan Hill defenses played better –
shutting out two Hollister teams. A rundown on all the days
action:
Despite stellar performances by four defensive units – allowing five touchdowns in the four games – the Hollister Vikings managed only one win in four games against the Morgan Hill Raiders at Andy Hardin Stadium on Sunday. Morgan Hill defenses played better – shutting out two Hollister teams. A rundown on all the days action:
Junior Midget
Vikings 19, Raiders 14
By Tom Vivian
Hollister saved their best game for last as the Vikings staged a dramatic come-from-behind victory over the Raiders.
From the start, the Vikings defense showed dominance over their foes. In the first quarter, Kyle Cameron was a one-man wrecking crew as he recovered a fumble to end Morgan Hill’s first series.
When the Raiders got the ball back, Cameron made two big tackles and then blocked a punt, giving the Vikings first and goal at the four-yard line. Halfback Jackson Starke ran it in to the end zone to give Hollister a 6-0 lead.
The Raiders forced a big break by breaking through to block a punt last in the second quarter, which was returned for a touchdown. A two-point kick made it 8-6 Raiders at halftime.
In the second, Hollister fell behind 14-13 before taking the lead for good in the fourth quarter.
Hollister took over at their own 30 with 7:20 remaining, and began a sustained drive with a run by Starke to the 48 yard line. Eventually, Joshua Nehme angled towards the far corner of the end zone, getting over the pylon for the winning score with 2:33 remaining.
Pee Wee
Raiders 18, Vikings 12
By Samantha Zaragoza
The Vikings took the field Sunday with high hopes for the 2011 season. The team boasts a strong number of returning players, many of whom played with head coach Gino Andrade on last years’ Junior Pee Wee team.
Hollister got the ball first, and began moving the chains as running backs Marcus Guevara, Michael Zaragoza and Ishmael Medina churned out a first down. But the Raider defense stiffened, forcing a punt. Morgan Hill took over on their own 46, but with a Morgan Hill penalty, sack and fumbled snap, the Raiders were unable to move the ball. Tristan Wahl and Zaragoza sacked the quarterback on third down, and Diego Fisher pressured the quarterback for no gain on fourth down. Hollister took over and struck quickly as halfback Andres Soto took the handoff and burst through a hole blown open by the offensive line giving Hollister a 6-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Hollister’s defense continued to shut out Morgan Hill. Mark Martinez and Fisher chalked up great tackles to contain the Raiders run, and a Zaragoza blitz forced a fumble. Hollister jumped on the loose ball at Morgan Hill’s 42 yard line. Hollister’s defense held the Raiders scoreless in the first half, with blitzes by Wahl and Zaragoza and tackles by Medina and Soto ending the Raiders final series.
The third quarter found the Hollister defense a bit out of rhythm. Morgan Hill took advantage by scoring a touchdown, giving the Raiders an 8-6 lead. After a safety, extending the Raiders lead to 10-6, Morgan Hill threatened again to score after a kickoff return to the 25 yard line. With only four minutes left in the contest, Morgan Hill ran over the Hollister defense for another touchdown and kicked a successful point after to open an 18-6 lead.
One of the most exciting plays of the game nearly got the Vikings back into the end zone. The handoff went to Soto who ran towards the outside. Before the defense could react, Soto launched the ball to a waiting Darius Parks who caught it and ran for a few extra yards. This 37-yard play would get Hollister to the 21 yard line, with just two minutes left in the game. Cutting runs by Soto and Fisher brought the ball to the 7 yard line. With a minute left, quarterback Hunter Raquet took the snap, circled to the right and connected with Fisher in the end zone for a Hollister touchdown. But the Vikings fell 1812.
“The first half went great, but then we just tuckered out in the third quarter. That little gap was the difference in the game. Coach Gino Andrade said after the game.
Andrade noted Michael Esparza and Nate Newman played well on the line.
Junior Pee Wee
Raiders 6, Vikings 0
By Tom Vivian
Both defenses dominated in this contest, and both teams found it nearly impossible to move the ball for most of the game. The Raiders scored on a breakaway run early, but both defenses took over from that point. The Viking defenders stopped the Raiders running game with smothering tackles led by Jonny Gonzalez, Angel Amescua, Christopher Pritchett, Manuel Delatorre and Isaias Rivera.
Late in the contest, the Vikings offense finally got untracked against a tiring Raiders defense as fullback Gonzalez broke several good gains through the Raider line. But the Vikings ran out of time as the game ended with Hollister on the Morgan Hill 11 yard line.
Mighty Mite
Raiders 6, Vikings 0
By Noelle Greene
Hollister’s Mighty Mites played out a long defensive struggle against the Raiders. The Vikings started the game on a high note as a great kickoff by Joseph Frank was fumbled by the Raiders and Gabriel Domingues recovered for Hollister on the Morgan Hill 46. Ivan Mendoza broke a long run to the Morgan Hill 10, but the Raider defense prevented Hollister from scoring. The Viking defense also proved impenetrable as the heroics continued on the Raiders next series as Anthony Sanchez made several tackles and Rudy Morales and Domingues contained Morgan Hill on the outside run.
The Vikings offense finally began a good drive just before halftime as Andrew Montoya, Mendoza and Sam Smallwood each had several good runs for first downs, but the Vikings could not score before the half.
In third quarter, Hollister’s defense continued to dominate as Sanchez and Domingues broke through the line to sack the Raiders’ quarterback and Frank and Zapien made great tackles against the Raiders. The teams exchanged punts for several series as Hollister continued to play aggressive defense.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Raiders finally broke a long run and scored with 3:48 remaining in the game.
The Raiders stopped the Viking offense one more time. Morgan Hill could have run out the clock, but chose to test out its passing game, and Montoya intercepted for the Vikings, giving Hollister one last chance. But the Raider defense shut down the Hollister drive to preserve their shutout win.
Tiny Mites
No score
By Tom Vivian
Coach Trenton Finister was pleased with the play of his Hollister Tiny Mites, who are fielding nine returning players from last year. Experience made a big difference on Sunday as Justin Cortez crossed the goal line twice on long runs for a Viking team that had trouble moving the ball last year.
Defensively, the Vikings allowed a couple long Raider runs to the outside early in the game, but shifted their defense around, putting linebacker Dionicio Gutierrez at the defensive end position. Gutierrez shut down everything to his side, and the Raiders had a hard time moving after that. Gutierrez, celebrating his birthday, tallied the Vikings last touchdown run of the game. Juan Cortez also had a big game defensively for the Vikings, and Keith Pelaiz had a long run from scrimmage.
Next week
The Vikings stay home this weekend, and all teams – except for the Junior Midgets – will take on the Coastside Cougars. The matches begin at 9 a.m. at Andy Hardin Stadium on Saturday.
The following is this week’s episode of the San Benito Score, featuring a breakdown of Anzar’s 8-man football program:
