Three out of four Hollister Pop Warner Youth Football teams
bested their opponents on Sunday and all three of the winners
remain unbeaten on the year.
But their toughest challenge Sunday wasn’t their opponents, but
rather the venue itself. Hollister was supposed to have played out
of town this past weekend, but due to a field maintenance
catastrophe in Morgan Hill, found out on Friday night that it was
to host six home games at Andy Hardin Stadium.
Three out of four Hollister Pop Warner Youth Football teams bested their opponents on Sunday and all three of the winners remain unbeaten on the year.
But their toughest challenge Sunday wasn’t their opponents, but rather the venue itself. Hollister was supposed to have played out of town this past weekend, but due to a field maintenance catastrophe in Morgan Hill, found out on Friday night that it was to host six home games at Andy Hardin Stadium.
Jr. Midgets – Hollister Vikings 26,
Santa Teresa Bulldogs 0
The Junior Midgets were the only Hollister team that traveled Sunday as their game in San Jose was not affected by the Morgan Hill field problems. The secret to winning on the road is to establish dominance over your opponent early, and the Vikings did just that, scoring twice in the first quarter.
Austin Schmidt scored both TD’s, on breakaway runs of 33 and 35 yards, behind the blocking of Steven Pedroza and the rest of an offensive line.
The second touchdown was set up by an interception by David DeMateo. DeMateo, who also plays quarterback, completed a 20-yard pass to Schmidt prior to Schmidt’s touchdown run.
The Vikings got two insurance touchdowns in the third quarter. After a great run by Felix Cortez and another DeMateo to Schmidt connection, fullback Al Reyes took the handoff on a power sweep and motored 34 yards for another Viking score.
Schmidt added a two-point kick conversion to put Hollister up 20-0.
DeMateo scored Hollister’s final touchdown on a quarterback keeper, set up by tough runs by Anthony Padilla, Ryan Wiltse and Chris Gonzales.
Defensively, the Vikings were just as dominant with Robby Sanchez, Adrian Perez and Bobby Dennehy making themselves welcome in the Bulldog backfield all day long. Eric Sanders contributed several big quarterback sacks.
Herman Valderrama intercepted a pass late in the game and returned it 38 yards.
Jr. Pee Wees – Hollister Vikings 12, Morgan Hill Raiders 6
In a battle between two unbeaten, untied and unscored upon teams, the Vikings prevailed despite having their scoreless defensive streak snapped after sixteen quarters.
The Raiders dispensed with the streak early in the game, scoring on a three-play drive midway through the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead.
Early in the second quarter, the Vikings returned the favor when speedy halfback Andre Cornell broke away from the Morgan Hill defense with a 48-yard touchdown gallop.
After that run tied the game, the Viking defense reverted back to form, moving the Raiders backwards as Isaak Ramos, Adrian Soto, Dustin Rovella and Tyler Decker forced big losses on three successive plays. Cornell took the ensuing punt on his own 45 and returned it 55 yards to paydirt.
Though it happened only thirteen minutes into the game, that score would prove to be the winning touchdown.
The Vikings’ defense proved to be equally adept at shutting down the Raiders attack with Tyler Pina, Mikey Soto, Ricky Rodriguez and Jared Lantis each contributing quarterback sacks.
Pee Wees – Hollister Vikings 22,
Morgan Hill Raiders 0
The Pee Wee Vikings defeated an unbeaten team for the second week in a row.
The Vikings Kyle Vallejo and Justin Reynolds starred defensively, making their presence felt throughout the game.
Punter Ryan Shorey actually made the first big defensive play for Hollister as he boomed a long kick which pinned the Raiders back on their own 8-yard line.
Evan McFadden intercepted a pass moments later. The Vikings capitalized when Shorey ran 10 yards for the Vikings first score of the game.
Michael Murphy added one of his two-point conversion kicks for an 8-0 lead.
Nick Acosta recovered a fumble on the Raiders next possession, but the Vikings couldn’t produce any points following the turnover.
Midway through the third quarter, Brandon Pina picked off a Morgan Hill pass after the Raiders had begun to drive.
A 30-yard hookup from Trevor Fabing to Mitchell Cook gave the Vikings a first down deep in Raider territory. The mercurial Pina ran it in from the nine.
Murphy made the kick and the Vikings led 16-0.
The Vikings got an insurance touchdown when Holden Renz plowed 16 yards up the middle to make it 22-0 Hollister.
The shutout was preserved by more great defensive play as Ryan Sabbatini stymied the Raiders by throwing their wingback for a big loss on a reverse play.
Midgets –
Morgan Hill Raiders 33, Hollister Cowboys 25
This game was a tale of two halves.
The Raiders dominated the first half and opened up a 23-0 cushion. They then had to hold off a ferocious Hollister comeback to preserve the hard-fought victory.
The game began to turn the Cowboys’ way late in the third quarter when Miles Sanchez, in his first quarterbacking assignment, hit Michael Decker with a 55-yard bomb to put Hollister on the board.
Jaime Driskill peeled off a 47-yard run for a touchdown on the Cowboys next possession. With 5:08 remaining in the game, Driskill scored again from 23-yards out. Decker caught a pass from Abel Jacquez to narrow the gap to 14. The Cowboys had scored 19 points in six minutes and suddenly found themselves back in the game.
The hometown crowd worked themselves into a fever pitch when Russ Czernek found Jacquez for a 25-yard gainer to the Raiders 23. But moments later, the Raiders intercepted to stop that drive.
But the Cowboys still had a few tricks left as Decker intercepted a pass a few minutes later.
Needing two scores, the Cowboys had to get one quickly, but the Raider defense kept everything in front of them.
Finally, with 9 seconds left, Matt Hamilton got underneath a Jacquez pass and raced 48-yards to paydirt. But the score came too late to give the Cowboys a chance to win.
-The Mitey Mites also entertained Morgan Hill on Sunday and the Hollister defense played very well. John Hartshorn recovered a fumble and forced several big losses in the backfield, while Cade Vallejo, Jonathan Roach and Danny Buzzetta all made more than their share of tackles.
Marcus Sabatte had the best offensive play for Hollister, running the ball 30 yards. Cody Cameron broke up a pass play at the end of the contest.
-Hollister has home games against Santa Cruz this Saturday. Games begin at 11 a.m. at Andy Hardin Field.
-Tom Vivian contributed this report.
