Two Hollister Pop Warner teams moved on and two were eliminated
in the Division II playoffs last weekend.
Two Hollister Pop Warner teams moved on and two were eliminated in the Division II playoffs last weekend. Moving on are the Pee Wees, who defeated East County 18-12, and the Junior Pee Wees, who blanked East County 8-0. The season is done for the Midgets, who were downed 30-6 by East County and the Junior Midgets, who were ousted by East Bay East 33-6.
The defense was the big story for the Vikings Junior Pee Wees at Gilroy Saturday. The Vikes’ opponents were known for passing the ball and running outside, but they could do neither, thanks to a relentless Vikings defense.
Alex Mottau and Ryan Shorey shut down the air lanes while defensive ends Brandon Pina and Ryan Sabbatini contained the outside ground game all day long. The defense scored the first points, a safety, late in the second period to put the Vikings up 2-0. It was a team effort as no fewer than five Vikings defenders swarmed on an East County ballcarrier in the end zone. That was indicative of the kind of team effort the defense would produce all day.
In the third quarter, the Vikings offense got on the board with a 55-yard reception and run by Andre Cornell on a pass from Shorey.
“When we scored that TD, I knew the game was over,” said Jr. Pee Wees coach Gino Andrade. “That’s because the defense was playing so well.”
Justin Williams recovered a fumble late in the game for the JPW’s, while Darin Gillies blocked a punt. Shorey executed a perfect coffin corner punt to give the ball to East County at their own one-yard line.
The JPW’s square off agaomst a strong West Bay Rams team at Townsend Field in Santa Clara this Sunday at 9 a.m.
Matt Arballo had touchdown runs of 73 and 35 yards to lead the Pee Wees, who saw a 12-0 advantage fritter away to a 12-12 tie.
“We just gave up two big plays,” said Pee Wees head coach Larry Murphy. “We shut them down other than that.”
The game turned out to be a thriller, with Anthony Vaca catching a 15-yard TD pass from David DeMateo.
“I was ecstatic,” said Murphy. “So were the kids.”
The Pee Wees follow the JPW’s in a Townsend Field doubleheader this Sunday at 11 a.m. when they take on East Bay East.
Not to be outdone were the Hollister Pop Warner Mitey Mites, who played a Super Bowl game at Andy Hardin Field last Saturday night against Morgan Hill Raiders. The Mitey Mites played their best game of the season, reaching the end zone three times in the first half.
Mark Neal got over the goal line on a 12-yard gallop, which capped a 70-yard drive on the Vikings’ first possession of the game. Halfback Conner Stevens found Chris Greenwood on a halfback option pass for another tally.
Defensively, the Vikings shut down every aspect of Morgan Hill’s offense. Jared Lantis and Jonathan Huaracha wreaked havoc in the Raiders’ backfield and Tyler Pina recovered a fumble for the Holister-Mites.
