Defense again leads the way for the Vikings as they issue two shutouts to teams from Sunnyvale.
Junior Midgets
Hollister Viking 8, Sunnyvale Rockets 0
By Samantha Zaragoza
The Vikings started their win with a strong defensive stand, as Devin Beltran and Michael Zaragoza tackled runners on the first three downs of the game to slow down Sunnyvale. The Sunnyvale Rockets offense struggled the entire game, as the Viking defense ate up runners. Kyle Manley and Matthew Manley helped lead the way, combining on a sack.
On offense, Center Sean Nelson and quarterback Diego Fisher found a rhythm early in the second quarter. After Fisher connected with Tristan Wahl, who fought through two defenders to earn a first down, and two short runs by Ishmael Medina, the Vikings faced fourth down and 11.
Head coach Jeff Valenzuela pulled out a trick play as Zaragoza caught a direct snap and jetted up the middle for 15 yards to move the chains. Medina took the next carry and ate up more yards weaving around the defense to gain another Viking first down.
Two plays later Fisher hid behind a Medina block and crossed the goal line for a game’s only touchdown. Andres Soto’s point after kick was good to give the Vikings an 8-0 lead.
The Vikings, though, suffered a setback when quarterback Fisher was sidelined with an injury before the second half. Cade Neece took over the offense from there.
Although the Vikings were unable to add more points, the Viking defense lit up the Sunnyvale runners.
Nearly fooled on a reverse, Medina made a touchdown-saving tackle in the open field. Michael Camacho racked up two sacks and three solo tackles for the day. Jake Deidrick and Clint Fuentes stopped any drive Sunnyvale tried to muster. Good pass coverage by Soto and Wahl shut down the Sunnyvale air attack.
“I have no expectations for these boys. I want them to keep moving forward but just focus on the next game,” Valenzuela said. “They all did great.”
Pee Wee
Hollister Vikings 27, Sunnyvale Black Knights 0
By Santiago Hernandez
The Vikings never trailed Saturday, blowing away Sunnyvale. The scoring started early for Hollister.
Consecutive runs by Jonny Gonzalez and Matthew Trimble moved the chains three times to set up a 35-yard touchdown run by Peter Felice. The defense held the Knights on downs give the ball back to Hollister. On the Vikings ensuing possession, Gonzalez ran 35 yards for touchdown. After a Kobe Valdez extra point, Hollister led 14-0.
Vikings defense held again, making a statement with great fourth-down backfield tackle by Christopher Pritchett Jr. on Knights’ 27. Vikings used Ryan Miller to pound Knights’ defense with a couple of hard runs to set up Hunter Raquet’s touchdown on a quarterback keeper, making the score 21-0.
In the second half, the Vikings added their final points in the third quarter when Gonzalez scored to make it 27-0.
