On Saturday afternoon, Coach Gino Andrade’s junior pee wees
accomplished an all-time first for the Hollister Vikings when the
team became the first ever to go undefeated at home while playing a
Division I schedule.
HOLLISTER
On Saturday afternoon, Coach Gino Andrade’s junior pee wees accomplished an all-time first for the Hollister Vikings when the team became the first ever to go undefeated at home while playing a Division I schedule.
Winning out at home has been done nine other times by previous Hollister teams, including six teams that were undefeated through the whole regular season. But all of those perfect steaks happened when the Vikings were playing in Division II, which is a much lower level of competition. The last time it had been done at any level was in 2007, when Andrade’s junior pee wees went undefeated in the regular season and all the way through nationals, becoming the second Hollister team to win a national championship.
The team’s accomplishment is important for the entire organization in that it shows the Vikings are capable of holding their own against big-city teams that usually dominate Division I, and the team is looking forward to some truly worthy playoff competition.
The game itself was a dominating 28-6 win over a Santa Clara Thundercat team that had dominated Hollister just as thoroughly when they last met a year ago. The first play of the game was a good indication of how the rest of the game would progress.
Linebacker Michael Zaragoza blitzed untouched up the middle and reached the quarterback just as he was attempting to hand the ball off. Sean Nelson jumped on the stray ball, setting up the Vikings’ first score two minutes into the first quarter. Quarterback Brad Sparrer connected with Andres Soto on a crisp pass, which was followed with a Soto run on the next play to bring the ball to the 1-yard line. Blockers Peter Felice and Christopher Pritchett opened a huge hole for Soto to run through for the first score of the game. Soto’s point-after attempt was kicked in successfully for a score of 8-0.
Santa Clara tried to get their offense going, but the Viking defense was not budging. Tackles by Ishmael Medina, Felice and Nick Perez stopped the Thundercats in their tracks. Two series later, during which the Vikings defense didn’t allow more than five yards, the Hollister special teams group capitalized to add its own points to the board.
Medina received the Santa Clara punt at midfield and, after he changed directions and cut across the entire width of the field, Medina would bypass all the Thundercats on a 60-yard sprint for another Hollister touchdown. Soto’s point-after kick, aided by blockers Felice and Cade Neece, sailed through the uprights. Hollister led the contest 16-0 as the first quarter wound down.
On the first play of Santa Clara’s next drive, a gang tackle in the backfield popped the ball out and Nelson would recover his second turnover of the game. The quarterback Neece threw completion to AJ Pasillas, and then handed the ball to Medina who ran 32 yards for his second touchdown of the game. Although Soto’s point-after kick was blocked, the Vikings were ahead with a comfortable 22-0 lead one minute into the second quarter.
Santa Clara wasn’t able to move the chains because of great defensive plays by the Vikings. Michael Esparza, Nelson and Zaragoza would stall the Thundercat runners, and when Santa Clara tried a pass on fourth-and-long, Darius Park made a diving effort and nearly picked off the pass. Santa Clara would turn the ball over on downs on its own 35-yard line. Hungry to score again, Medina took the first hand-off and weaved in and out of the Thundercat defense, then tiptoed the sideline before getting pushed out at the 5-yard line. Marcus Guevara, on his first run of the game, sped through the goal line dragging two Thundercats with him for a 28-0 Hollister lead.
Although the Vikings would not score during the shortened second half of the contest, the team rallied to keep Santa Clara out of the red zone. Javier Valdez and Esparza held their lines and chalked up tackles and the entire Viking defensive line stopped runs through the middle.
“There were so many gang tackles, it was hard to see who was in there,” Andrade said. “(The refs) were peeling four, five of our guys off the runner. It was amazing.”
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Thundercats would finally get into the red zone and earn a first down for the first time all game. The Santa Clara quarterback snuck the ball into the end zone to make the final score 28-6.
In other notable game moments, Kane De Alba secured a tricky onside kick, which helped establish quality field position for the Vikings. Parks, Allen Reyes, Bobby Vivian, Matthew Hernandez and Blaze McShane would all give good efforts running the ball, and Matthew Trimble chased down a Santa Clara pass for a near interception.
The junior pee wees have secured a playoff berth, the first Hollister team to do so for 2010. Coach Andrade is confident his team can keep the momentum going.
“I know we have a shot in the playoffs,” he said. “Our defense is solid; the offense just keeps moving the ball.”
The Vikings head to Oakland next week for their last regular season game. The defense will need to stop the big runs and the offense will be called on to out-maneuver the quick East Bay East team. If the Vikings can upend the undefeated East Bay Wolverines, their playoff future could involve another first: A trip to the Florida sunshine representing the Pacific Northwest Region as Division I Champions. All other Hollister Pop Warner national berths involved Division II teams.
By Samantha Zaragoza and Tom Vivian
Mighty Mite
Santa Clara Mitey Cats 30, Hollister Vikings 0
The Hollister Vikings hosted the Santa Clara Mitey Cats in the last home game of the regular season.
The Cats started on the 43-yard line after a huge tackle form Mathew Sanders on the kickoff. Despite a touchdown-saving tackle by Brady Miguel on a breakaway Santa Clara runner, the Mitey Cats scored to take the lead.
Jordan Plesek received the kickoff and had a nice return, taking the ball to the 20-yard line. Ernesto Sanchez and Jonathan Ramos were able to get some yards for the Vikings, but Santa Clara stopped the drive and took over on downs. Mathew Sanders, Isaias Rivera and Anthony Sanchez were able to hold back the Cats from gaining any yards, showing them that the Vikings were not going to give up the fight. Santa Clara fumbled the ball and the Vikings’ Angel Amescua pounced on it, giving Hollister a much needed boost of confidence.
Taking over on their own 45-yard line, Ernesto Sanchez and Anthony Sanchez gained some yards but the Cats’ defense kept the Vikings from scoring.
Defensive linemen Gabriel Dominguez, Leo St. John, Amescua, Anthony Sanchez, Ernesto Sanchez and Plesek made some great takedowns, but the Mitey Cats were here to win. Hollister’s defense put up an inspired goal-line stand as Ivan Mendoza and Diego Ramirez held the Lions on the 1-yard line, and Ernesto Sanchez made a huge tackle keeping the Lions from another touchdown. But on fourth down, the Cats found their way into the end zone to make the score 12-0.
When Hollister got the ball back, Ernesto Sanchez threw the ball for more than 20 yards to Kobe Valdez for the Vikings’ longest play of the game, but the Santa Clara defense stiffened to prevent a score.
Santa Clara dominated the second half of the game, scoring three more touchdowns for a lopsided win. Hollister’s other noteworthy defensive efforts included multiple tackles by Austin Wiggins, Joshua Zapien and Eric Green, as well as a fumble recovery by Anthony Sanchez.
The Vikings will work hard this week on their defense and offense in hopes to come out with a win for their final game.
By Carissa Brewer
Pee Wee
Santa Clara Panthers 30, Hollister Vikings 8
The Hollister Viking pee wee team had a rough go of it Saturday, facing a well-disciplined and well-coached Santa Clara team that dominated the game. Although the Vikings thought they matched up well against Santa Clara, the players seemed a bit shell-shocked by the Panthers and had a hard time picking up the intensity for the rest of the game.
On the first play from scrimmage, the Panthers ran the ball 50 yards up the middle for a touchdown. On their next possession, Santa Clara put together a 75-yard drive to go up on the Vikings 14-0.
The Vikings’ second possession of the game resulted in a long drive with several good runs by backs Evyn Moreno, Shraee Harrison, Dylan Olivares and Nick Trimble, and a nice pass by quarterback Daniel Hopkins to Elijah Changco. However, an interception deep in Panther territory ended the drive.
The Viking defense responded with an interception by Trimble that was returned 35 yards for a touchdown, and the Vikings were back in the game. The Panthers’ offense responded with another long drive, but a sack by Tanner Okerson on fourth-and-goal with 52 seconds left in the first half kept Santa Clara out of the end zone. The Panthers led at halftime, 14-8.
The Vikings got the ball to start the second half, but their drive sputtered. Santa Clara put together a six-play, 69-yard drive for their third touchdown of the game. Hollister attempted to put together some offensive drives but was stymied by turnovers.
“We never found our rhythm,” head coach Larry Murphy said. “We were flat all game.”
The Vikings cannot lick their wounds for long, as they need to prepare to face perhaps their toughest opponent to date next week — the undefeated East Bay Wolfpack.
“We need to put this behind us and we’ve got to be ready,” Murphy said to the team. “We’ve got to go to East Bay, and you know they’re going to bring it.”
Added offensive coordinator John Turpin, “If you thought these guys were fast, just wait. Next week we’ll see some speed.”
The pee wees are currently seeded seventh for the playoffs, and will likely keep that berth regardless of the results of next Saturday’s games.
By Christine Wahl-Dukes
Junior Midgets
Santa Clara Wildcats 27, Hollister Vikings 0
The Santa Clara Wildcats brought an abrupt end to Hollister’s two-game winning streak, and all but ended the junior midget’s playoff hopes.
The Wildcats didn’t have to wait long for its first big break as a muffed punt gave Santa Clara the ball on the Hollister 20. The Vikings came up big as the Wildcats were intercepted by RJ Clark, but the Vikings got the ball on their own 3.
Joe Coffelt ran for a first down to get Hollister out from the shadow of their goal line, but three plays later, the Vikings faced a fourth-and-1 at their own 23. Realizing that their defense couldn’t remain effective if they were on the field for the whole game, the Vikings coaching staff decided to go for it. Santa Clara denied them the first down, and scored three plays later to take a 6-0 lead.
In the second quarter the Wildcats drove again, but the defense came up big again as Clark got his second turnover — this time a fumble recovery to end the drive. But the Vikings’ offense could not move, and the Wildcats scored on a long run to go up 12-0.
The two-point conversion kick was blocked by Matthew Rabago and Austin Cascio as special teams continued to come up big for the Vikings.
Santa Clara scored on the second-half kickoff to put the game out of reach.
Despite the loss, the Vikings continued to play solid defense. Besides Clark’s exploits, Jackson Starke had several sacks, and Steven Gatto made two big tackles to prevent returns after punts and kickoffs.
By Tom Vivian
Tiny Mite
East Palo Alto Greyhounds vs. Hollister Vikings
The tiny mite Vikings showed improvement on both sides of the ball against the East Palo Alto Greyhounds, enabling them to make many exiting plays.
On offense, Rudy Morales made a great run for 34 yards, and ran it in for a touchdown two plays later. Jayden Romero provided excellent blocking throughout the game.
On defense, Mitchell Sanchez had his best game of the season, making several good tackles, including a quarterback sack. Justin Cortez made an interception, plus a touchdown-saving tackle, and Chris Soto also contributed a sack.
By Bobby Vivian
The Week Ahead:
The Hollister Vikings travel to Oakland on Saturday to face the East Bay Warriors, who have secured the top seed for the playoffs at almost every level. The junior pee wee game, beginning at 11 a.m., is the only one that is likely to have a big affect on the playoffs.
