The Hollister Viking junior pee wee football team advanced to
the Peninsula Pop Warner league championship after it earned a
nail-biting 18-12 victory over the Morgan Hill Raiders on Saturday
night at the Salinas Sports Complex; meanwhile, the Hollister
midgets fell to Sunnyvale by a 28-0 margin
HOLLISTER
For the fifth time in eight years, and the fifth time in the six years they competed in Division II, the Hollister Viking junior pee wees have advanced to the Peninsula Pop Warner league championship after it earned a nail-biting 18-12 victory over the Morgan Hill Raiders on Saturday night at the Salinas Sports Complex.
In keeping with its winning formula over the past eight years, the Hollister defense asserted itself early. After Morgan Hill returned the opening kick-off to near midfield, the Vikings stuffed the Raiders’ power running game when Marcos Flores made a tackle on a fourth-and-one play. Hollister fumbled on its first series, but the defense again rose up as Jacob Zamora chased down the Morgan Hill quarterback from behind to force a big loss and prevent the Raiders from capitalizing on the miscue.
Hollister’s offense could not move the ball, however, but Shraee Harrison kicked a punt that was downed at the Morgan Hill 11. The defense again stepped up as Nathan Fhurong mounted a ferocious pass rush on a third-down play, forcing the Raider quarterback to throw early. The pass was defended by Harrison and Morgan Hill was forced to punt again.
Although the punt was blocked by Travis Roy, giving Hollister a first down in the Raiders’ red zone, Morgan Hill’s defense denied the Vikings a touchdown.
Nevertheless, the Raiders were pinned back deep and punted again a few minutes later. This time the Vikings took over at the Raiders 40 when Fhurong broke an outside run for a 35-yard gain, giving Hollister a first down on the 3. Kyle Cameron then scored from three yards out to put Hollister on the board, and the Vikings led 6-0 at halftime.
Cameron took the third-quarter kickoff and trekked 75 yards for an apparent touchdown, but an illegal block well behind the play put the ball on the 25. Cameron fired up the jets again and ran outside for 22 yards, finally being brought out of bounds on the 3. After two unsuccessful runs, Harrison punched the ball in from the 1 and the Vikings had a 12-0 lead, which seemed insurmountable the way the defense was playing.
Hollister’s defensive exploits continued when Flores saved a touchdown with a tackle on a breakaway run, but that play gave the Raiders confidence their speedy quarterback could beat the Vikings’ defense outside.
Minutes later, the Raiders scored on the same type of play to make it a 12-6 game with one quarter remaining.
Hollister’s offense responded after getting the ball on its own 25. Harrison burst 75 yards on an electrifying power sweep to restore the margin to 12.
The Vikings defense stopped the next Morgan Hill series and hoped to run out the clock with a few first downs, but the Raiders defense rose up and forced the Vikings three-and-out.
Morgan Hill had the ball back with four minutes remaining, needing two quick scores to tie. The Raiders moved the ball downfield against a tiring Hollister defense, but could not get the breakaway run they needed to move within striking distance. It took the Raiders three and a half minutes, and about fifteen plays, to finally score a touchdown with just 32 seconds remaining. Zamora recovered the onside kick to preserve the Vikings 18-12 victory.
Hollister will play the West Bay Rams for the league championship at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning at Yerba Buena High School in San Jose.
Hollister’s other remaining team, the midgets, finally had their season come to an end on Sunday afternoon in Santa Clara. The Sunnyvale Rockets proved why they are perennial contenders for the midget league title when they defeated the Vikings 28-0 to advance to the league championship game for the third time in four years.
Sunnyvale scored on its first drive after a long pass play set up a short touchdown run. Hollister fumbled away its first possession, but the defense kept the Rockets from scoring again as Cody McGrew put intense pressure on the Sunnyvale quarterback, forcing an incomplete third down pass and a punt.
But Hollister went three-and-out again, and this time the Rockets offense could not be stopped. They scored on a long drive to go up 12-0.
Viking fans finally got something to cheer about on the next series as strong runs by Zack Hicks and Damien Botelho gave Hollister a series of first downs. But the Sunnyvale defense stiffened in the red zone and the Vikings stayed two touchdowns behind.
With time expiring in the first half, the Rockets quarterback unleashed a bomb that was hauled in for a touchdown, and the Rockets had a 20-0 lead. Hollister’s only bright moment in the second half was a 50-yard kick return by Steven Morales as the Rockets cruised to a 28-0 win.
The Vikings have a strong possibility of sending three teams — the junior pee wee football and cheer teams, as well as the pee wee cheer squad — to compete for the national championship in Florida in December. The players and families are trying to raise much-needed funds through a raffle with many great prizes, including a $1,500 Costco shopping spree. Those interested in participating in the raffle may contact fundraising director Kimberly Morgan at (831) 801-8825.
The program is also looking for support from other means, including private donations and business sponsorships. Those interested in either of these may contact Public Relations Director Tom Vivian at (831) 726-1747. Information on the advertising benefits and business exposure from sponsoring Hollister Youth Football and Cheer can also be found on the association’s Web site at: http://www.eteamz.com/HollisterPopWarner/news/index.cfm?cat=563687
