It wasn’t an ordinary Jamboree for the Hollister Pop Warner
Youth Football program on Saturday.
Though the games didn’t count in the standings, four of the HPW
clubs took the opportunity to settle a score with legendary Oak
Grove, which may have won more youth football championships than
any other team in the nation. Last year, Hollister played four Oak
Grove teams, and lost all four games by lopsided scores.
It wasn’t an ordinary Jamboree for the Hollister Pop Warner Youth Football program on Saturday.
Though the games didn’t count in the standings, four of the HPW clubs took the opportunity to settle a score with legendary Oak Grove, which may have won more youth football championships than any other team in the nation. Last year, Hollister played four Oak Grove teams, and lost all four games by lopsided scores.
This time it was Hollister’s turn to run roughshod over Oak Grove for four consecutive games.
The day began with the Mitey Mites game. Although scores are not kept at this level, the Hollister Mitey-Mites outperformed their opponents in every conceivable way, setting a trend that would last all day long.
Mark Ponte led the charge for a ferocious Viking defense, recovering three fumbles, two of which he forced. Marcus Darnell recovered another. Ponte, Darnell and Cade Vallejo were forces to be reckoned with on defense, making it hard for Oak Grove to move the ball. Meanwhile, Hollister runners were ripping off big chunks of yardage, including an exciting 20-yard run by Taylor Dukes. Eddie Munoz crossed the goal line twice on long runs, while fullback Marcus Sabatte got good yardage virtually every time he carried the ball.
Late in the game, Oak Grove’s offense started to get untracked, but Tyler Fhurong stopped two drives with great tackles. Cody Cameron also recovered an onside kick to help his team’s effort.
Junior Pee Wees – Hollister Vikings 34, Oak Grove Rage 0
Hollister completely dominated the Rage, scoring at least once in every quarter.
The Vikings got a jump on their opponents early, moving the ball downfield on their first possession thanks to two breakaway runs by Andre Cornell. A few plays later, Isaac Ramos scored from the two yard-line and the Vikings had all the points they would need. Joshua Greenwood threw a perfect strike to Roman Reyes for the extra point and the Vikings led 7-0.
The Vikings moved the ball downfield again midway through the second period and Ramos scored again a few plays later.
Hollister’s defense played more like an offense all day, and got involved in the scoring with Cornell returning an interception 49 yards to paydirt.
Quarterback Tyler Decker bootlegged for 47 yards in the third quarter to get the Vikings close again, but finally the Rage stiffened up and denied them the end zone.
The Vikings’ defense turned the tables on the Rage when Justin Raine snatched the ball from a surprised Oak Grove runner and pranced into the end zone. Jared Lantis caught a conversion pass from Greenwood, and the Vikings had an insurmountable lead just four minutes into the second half.
Roman Reyes added a touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Defensive heroes abounded for Hollister in the shutout effort. Tyler Pina made himself a fixture in the Oak Grove backfield, as did Dustin Rovella. Conner Stevens and Jared Lantis saw to it that Oak Grove did not establish an outside running game.
Pee Wees – Hollister Vikings 18, Oak Grove Red Wings 6
Hollister’s defense again provided much of the heroics in the Pee Wees win. Justin Reynolds recovered an Oak Grove fumble on the Red Wings first possession of the game. Along with Reynolds, Taylor Green, Michael Murphy and Ryan Shorey formed the nucleus of a swarming defense which would not even yield yardage let alone touchdowns.
Oak Grove’s defense proved equal to the challenge early in the game. Taylor Green ignited the Vikings with a blocked punt, setting up the first score of the game.
The Vikings tallied when quarterback Trevor Fabing hit Ryan Sabbatini with a perfect strike from 19 yards out.
The Vikings struck again minutes later when Brandon Pina capped a short drive with a 7-yard touchdown run.
Pina electrified the crowd again on the last play of the first half when he intercepted a pass and broke numerous tackles, weaving 65 yards to the end zone. Pina appeared to cross the goal line as he was tackled, but the officials ruled otherwise, spotting the ball just outside the line.
Later, Evan McFadden forced and recovered a fumble to set up another Vikings score.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Murphy ran 20 yards for an insurance TD.
Junior Midgets – Hollister Vikings 31, Oak Grove Renegades 6
The Vikings trailed 6-0 before reeling off 31 unanswered points. The mercurial Austin Schmidt and Al Reyes sparked the Hollister offense. Schmidt scored to tie the game late in the first quarter.
Both defenses played well in the second and third quarters, so well that neither team was able to score.
Schmidt, Reyes, and Michael Brigantino provided much of the defensive muscle for the Vikings. Schmidt, especially made life difficult for the Renegades, breaking up several pass plays.
The Vikings offense finally caught fire as the fourth quarter began. Reyes ripped off a 25-yard run. David DeMateo followed with a 30-yard pass to Anthony Padilla.
Herman Valderrama plunged over from the one moments later for the go-ahead points.
The Vikings didn’t let up.
The next time they got the ball, Schmidt returned a punt 20 yards. He then broke loose for a 40-yard touchdown run a couple plays later.
Oak Grove was pinned deep in their territory after the kickoff, and a Renegade fumble was alertly scooped up by Reyes, who raced five yards for another score.
On the game’s final play, Schmidt added the coup-de-grace by intercepting an Oak Grove pass and returning it for another touchdown.
Midget – Hollister Cowboys 12, Gilroy Browns 12
The only Hollister Pop Warner team not to play Oak Grove Sunday was the Midgets, who scheduled a match with local rival Gilroy since the two teams will not meet in the regular as is their usual custom.
It was a tightly-fought contest and well-played by both teams. The Cowboys scored on their first possession with Anthony Flores scoring from the one after several good runs by Flores and Jaime Driskill got the Cowboys close.
The Cowboy defense shut down the Browns’ running attack early in the game, as Flores and Miles Sanchez got tremendous penetration into the backfield on virtually every play.
Gilroy turned to its passing attack in the second quarter and began moving the ball steadily, but the Cowboys turned to the blitz to stop themand sacked Gilroy quarterback Conner Farotte four times.
The Browns tried to run again in the third quarter, but the Cowboy defense still would not give any ground. But the constant running attack had made them vulnerable to the deep pass again, and midway through the fourth quarter, Jim Scaglione caught a 29-yard bomb from Farotte to tie the score. The Browns forced a quick punt, and began moving the ball through the air again, but Abel Jacquez recovered a fumble to breathe life into his team.
The Browns’ defense stiffened again and Hollister was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
When the Browns got the ball back, Conner hit Scaglione again with another deep pass, this one covering 58-yards for what Gilroy fans presumed would be the winning touchdown.
Not to be. With 2:31 remaining, Hollister had little time to move the ball, but only took seven seconds to tie the game as Jacquez demonstrated that he too could throw the deep pass. His target was Driskill and their collaborative effort covered 60 yards. But Hollister’s conversion attempt was blocked, and the game remained tied.
Gilroy had plenty of time to score again, but this time, the Hollister defense forced a punt, Driskill returned the punt 15 yards to give the Cowboys one more chance.
Two complete passes moved them deep into Gilroy territory, but Jacquez’ next pass was intercepted, enabling Gilroy to preserve the tie.
-Hollister plays host to Daly City this Saturday with games beginning at 11 a.m. at Andy Hardin field.
Note: Tom Vivian contributed this report.
