Pee Wee Vikings Win; Advance To League Championship
n Special to the Free Lance
Hollister – The Pee Wee Hollister Vikings are one win away from a league championship after their defense registered its second consecutive playoff shutout, defeating a tough Cambrian Valley team 14-0.
The Longhorns are known for their defense, but Hollister’s defense took control of the game early as big hits by Jared Lantis and Tyler Pina forced Cambrian Valley to go three and out.
The Longhorns fared no better on their next series as Jonathan Huaracha and Junior Davila made their presence felt in the Cambrian Valley backfield, snuffing two consecutive running plays to force another punt.
Hollister took over on their own 36, and quickly got on the board as Justin Raine rumbled 22 yards for a first down, and Nathan Castro scored three plays later on a 33-yard run from scrimmage.
Tyler Pinas’s two-point kick made it 8-0 Vikes. Cambrian Valley responded with a drive, but a big hit forced the ball out on the 9-yard line, and Huaracha recovered the fumble, the first of four consecutive Hollister takeaways.
Moments later, the Vikings were back in the end zone as Davila thrilled the crowd with a sudden burst of acceleration that resulted in a 69-yard touchdown run and a 14-0 lead.
The Vikings got the ball back on the Longhorns first play from scrimmage as Lantis recovered a fumble.
But the Cambrian Valley defense reverted back to form, denying Hollister a score despite a short field.
Isaac Navarette and Castro both intercepted passes on Cambrian’s next two possessions, but the Longhorn defense kept the score close with great defensive stands despite the turnovers.
Late in the contest, with the score still 14-0, quarterback Tyler Decker hit Lantis on a 20-yard pass play. Decker then called his own number and ran the ball all the way to the 9-yard line, one of several good runs on the day. But Cambrian Valley put up a wall again to deny Hollister an insurance score.
But thanks to the Viking defense, the Pee Wees had all the insurance they needed, and wrapped up a 14-0 win to advance to the league championship game.
If they win there, then they would play for the Pacific Northwest Region championship after Thanksgiving. And If they prevail in that contest, then it would be on to Florida to compete for a National Championship the second week in December.
Midget
The Pee Wees will be the only Viking team advancing as the Midget Hollister team met its match on Saturday night, being shut out 30-0 by the West Valley Falcons, last year’s defending league and regional champion.
The Falcons looked as if they were playing for a national championship this year, although Hollister’s defense played well enough to hold them scoreless until midway through the second quarter.
Great tackles by Anthony Godinez and Furry Lopez stopped the first West Valley drive, and Adrian Perez recovered a fumble when the Falcons threatened to score.
But the Hollister offense could do nothing against West Valley, and a good punt return gave the Falcons a short field, allowing them to score the game’s first points.
Minutes later, the Falcon quarterback hit his favorite target with a bomb, and the rout was on.
Despite the loss, the Midget team outperformed expectations and were one of the top four out of fourteen Midget teams in their division this year.
