West Bay prevails in 18-0 victory over the Hollister junior pee
wee Vikings
HOLLISTER
The Hollister Pop Warner football season came to a close on Sunday in the league championship game. For the fourth year in a row, the Vikings got a team to the championship, but the junior pee wees were overwhelmed by a very physical West Bay Rams team, and lost 18-0.
The Rams started the game with a good kickoff return to midfield, but the Hollister defense stopped West Bay cold on successive tackles by Clay Schwall, Tanner Okerson and Elijah Changco. The Rams showed their defensive prowess by shoving Hollister back, forcing a punt, but Shraee Harrison hit a 40-yarder to pin the Rams back deep.
Hollister’s formula for winning all year has hinged on timely takeaways by the defense deep in enemy territory, which the offense can then easily convert into touchdowns. As if on cue, the Viking defense forced a turnover when Kyle Cameron recovered a fumble. But this time the Hollister offense was smothered by the Rams’ run-blitz, which shut down holes that had been reliable all year long. The Vikings came away empty-handed from the red-zone takeaway.
When West Bay got the ball back, its huge offensive line began to push the Vikings backward and they got two quick first downs. But the defense came up big again as Harrison recovered a fumble.
Once again, though, the Vikings were shut down by the Rams defense, and when West Bay got the ball back, they drove downfield to score just before halftime to take a 6-0 lead.
West Bay scored again on a short drive with several big plays early in the third quarter to go up 12-0. Hollister’s defense thwarted the Rams’ next several drives, and also had an interception by Changco, but the West Bay defense would not give an inch to the Vikings. West Bay finally scored an insurance touchdown late in the game after Hollister went for it on fourth down deep in their own territory and failed to convert.
Despite the loss, the overachieving Viking junior pee wees finished with a regular season record of 4-3-1, and had a great playoff run with two postseason victories.
Hollister’s football teams may be done, but the cheer teams are still going strong. The junior pee wees and pee wee cheer teams compete for the regional championship on Nov. 27 at Leavy Center in Santa Clara, where a trip to nationals will be on the line.
The tiny mite and mighty mite cheer squad will also perform there.
