For the first time in four years, Hollister Pop Warner Youth
Football fans were treated to a sweep by the home teams on
Saturday.
The victim was Santa Cruz.
The big win was by the Midgets, who put an end to a three-year
home-field drought.
For the first time in four years, Hollister Pop Warner Youth Football fans were treated to a sweep by the home teams on Saturday.
The victim was Santa Cruz.
The big win was by the Midgets, who put an end to a three-year home-field drought.
Hollister Midgets Cowboys 32, Santa Cruz Stingrays 12
Hollister dominated its opponent right from the opening kickoff, amassing a 20-0 lead within the first ten minutes.
The Cowboys first TD came just 26 seconds into the contest when Jaime Driskill broke outside for a 33-yard touchdown run.
The Cowboys defense was relentless as Miles Sanchez stripped the ball from a Santa Cruz runner on the Stingrays second play from scrimmage.
The Cowboys started another drive, with Anthony Flores carrying much of the load, breaking several tackles on an 18-yard gain. Moments later, Chris Koroluk scored from two yards out. Russ Czernek added a two-point conversion kick to put the local favorites up 14-0.
The Cowboys regained possession and three big plays later were back in the endzone. Driskill returned the punt 25 yards, Czernek hit Abel Jacquez with a pass that covered 20 yards, then Driskill dashed in from the 10-yard line for 20-0 Cowboys.
Flores made it 26-0 with a 15-yard run midway through the second period.
To get back in the contest, Santa Cruz would have to pass. The Cowboys secondary of Michael Decker, Matt Hamilton, David Delacruz and Koroluk took personal responsibility for making sure that didn’t happen, shadowing Stingray receivers all over the field.
The defensive line kept pressure on the quarterback as Sanchez, George Luna and Frank Cota registered several sacks and forced the Stingrays to throw the ball away countless times.
In the third quarter, Abel Jacquez put the icing on the cake by racing 53 yards with a punt return for Hollister’s final score.
The Cowboys, at 2-3, are still in the Peninsula wild-card playoff hunt.
They would need to win two of their last three games to assure themselves a postseason berth.
Pee Wees –
Hollister Vikings 24,
Santa Cruz Sharks 0
The Pee Wee Vikings stayed unbeaten by knocking off an unbeaten team for the third consecutive week.
Defense was the big story as the Vikings recorded their fourth shutout in five games. Joshua Villegas recovered two fumbles, and spearheaded the Vikings defensive efforts all day long. Justin Reynolds logged a couple quarterback sacks and Ricky Canes stopped several runs in the backfield.
Michael Murphy contributed some big tackles, including one early in the game which gave Hollister the ball to set up their first touchdown.
Evan McFadden ended the short drive with a 5-yard run and Murphy added a two-point kick to put the Vikes up 8-0.
Mitchell Cook made sure the ball kept bouncing the Vikings way by recovering a fumbled punt return caused when Mcfadden slammed the Sharks punt returner.
The Vikings completed an impressive touchdown drive late in the second quarter with Holden Renz, Adrian Melendez and Mcfadden gaining most of the yards on the ground. Renz scored the TD on a three-yard run.
The Vikings got the ball back just before the half and planned to run out the clock, but scored instead when quarterback Trevor Fabing drew the entire Santa Cruz team to the left side with a fake, then bootlegged right for 30 yards and another Vikings TD. Murphy, who was a perfect three for three on conversion kicks, made it 24-0 Vikings at the half.
McFadden picked a Santa Cruz pass out of mid-air to preserve the shutout for his team.
Jr. Pee Wees – Hollister Vikings 24
Santa Cruz Sea Lions 0
The Junior Pee Wee Vikings have dominated defensively all year, allowing only one score against them while remaining unbeaten through six games.
But on Saturday, the offense took control of the game, refusing to give their opponents much playing time as they kept the ball for most of the contest.
The offensive line of Conner Stevens, Ryan Disalvo, Jon Huaracha, Austin Blake, Tyler Pina, and Ricky Rodriguez blew holes in the Santa Cruz line all day long, paving the way for the big win.
Justin Raine broke off the first big gainer of the day for the Vikings. Andre Cornell scored on one of his patented sideline dashes from 37 yards out to stake Hollister to an early lead.
Pina made a big tackle to stop the Sea Lions on downs on their first possession.
Hollister scored again as Mark Neal blasted 32 yards around right end for another six points.
On Hollister’s next possession, Joshua Greenwood started the drive with a 12-yard pass to Jared Lantis. A few plays later, Cornell burned Santa Cruz again with a 48-yard run to paydirt and the Vikings had an 18-0 lead.
After the first of two interceptions by Mikey Soto, Cornell scored again on a 25-yard run to give the Vikings a 24-0 halftime lead.
In the second half, Hollister dominated defensively while controlling the ball on offense. No matter which direction Santa Cruz ran, Isaak Ramos seemed to find the runner, leading the team in tackles on this day.
Stevens and Lantis had numerous big tackles for the Vikings. Rafael Salcedo and Tyler Decker made several big gains each on the ground for Hollister, making sure that the defense stayed well-rested.
Jr. Midgets – Hollister Vikings 27,
Santa Cruz Seahawks 7
The Jr. Midgets Vikings feasted on seven turnovers, including five fumbles and two interceptions, many of which led to Vikings scores.
The Seahawks fumbled on the game’s first possession, and Steven Andrade recovered for the Vikings. Anthony Padilla caught a pass from David DeMateo for 11 yards, then halfback Austin Schmidt scored from the three moments later.
DeMateo bootlegged the ball in for the extra point and the Vikings had a 7-0 lead.
Brandon Gomes pounced on the ball the next time the Seahawks lost it. Then DeMateo scored on a 40-yard keeper a few minutes later.
The Seahawks streak of turnovers continued as Devin Quintana intercepted a pass.
In the second quarter, Hollister made it 20-0 when Al Reyes hooked up with Schmidt for a 50-yard TD on the option pass. Padilla caught a pass from DeMateo for the extra point.
In the second half, Hollister was content to play ball control, as Ryan Wiltse and Herman Valderamma ripped off several good runs. Wiltse capped off the drive with a six-yard touchown run. Valderamma rammed it in for the extra point. Valderamma was also a standout player on special teams, tackling Seahawk kick returners all day long before they could get started.
Defensively, the Vikings continued to force turnovers on virtually every Seahawk possession, with Robby Sanchez and Schmidt scooping up fumbles and Quintana adding another interception.
The Mitey Mites also played well against their Santa Cruz opponents as Zachary Hicks, Marcus Sabatte, Johnny Corral and Danny Buzzetta had big days on defense. Hicks had many big tackles on the line, while Corral saved long gains with downfield tackles several times. Buzzetta recovered a fumble and Sabatte stripped the ball from a Santa Cruz runner.
Sabatte also reached the end zone on a 52-yard run. Taylor Dukes had an incredible 84-yard run from scrimmage in which he refused to be stopped, breaking several tackles on his way to the end zone.
Hollister travels to Redwood City this Sunday. Games begin at 9 a.m. at Woodside High School.
-Tom Vivian contributed this report.
