Purple Vikings team defeats Gilroy, Gold Vikings fall to Oak
Grove
SALINAS
The Hollister Vikings’ two Mitey Mite teams finished their season at the Mitey Mite Bowl on Saturday afternoon. Traditionally hosted in Hollister for teams in this region, the venue was changed to the Salinas Sports Complex this year.
One Vikings team prevailed over the Gilroy Browns, the other had their hands full with the Oak Grove Rush.
Mitey Mite Purple Vikings
Hollister Vikings 30
Gilroy Browns 6
The Purple Vikings finished their season on a high note Saturday with a convincing win over the Gilroy Browns. The Vikings defense was ferocious from the start as John Martinez, Hunter Nye and Joey Dimaggio made big hits to smother the Gilroy attack. Nye recovered a fumble on the Browns’ first possession, and on Gilroy’s second drive, the Vikings forced another fumble that was returned 20 yards by Tristan Wahl for Hollister’s first score.
The Vikings defense continued their heroics a few minutes later as Nye hit the Browns quarterback as he released the ball, which popped up in the air and was cradled by Wahl. Wahl blazed 40 yards downfield, finally being brought down at the 2-yard line. Michael Casarez then ran the ball into the end zone a few plays later.
Dimaggio, Nye and Nick Perez continued to terrorize Browns in the backfield, and Nye recovered another fumble. The offense scored the Vikings’ third touchdown as Nathan Fhurong ran 50 yards for a score with time running out in the half.
The Vikings continued their dominance throughout the second half. Darius Parks scored on a fumble return, and a long drive by the offense ended with a 2-yard plunge to paydirt by Nye. The game ended on another fumble recovery by the Vikings as Christian Leyba pounced on the ball after Bobby Vivian had knocked it out of a Gilroy ball carrier’s hands.
Mitey Mite Gold Vikings
Oak Grove Rush 24
Hollister Vikings 0
The Hollister Gold Vikings took on a powerful Oak Grove team in the wind and rain in Salinas, falling to the Rush by a 24-point margin for the second time this season. Michael Zaragoza, Marc Martinez, Dylan Olivares and Matthew Griffith made several good tackles to stop the Rush on some plays, but the Oak Grove offensive line put on a blocking clinic and the Rush kept the ball moving for most of the game. Jordan Finister, Efrain Amezcua and Zachery Serrano made big tackles during one series in the second half to stop the Rush.
Dawson Biersdorff also made some nice punts for the Vikings.
Both of Hollister’s playoff teams, the Junior Midgets and the Pee Wees, had first-round byes. The Junior Midget team was originally slated to host the lowest seeded team on Sunday at a neutral site, but the opposing team opted to forfeit as too many of their players were unavailable for the game. Both the Pee Wees and Junior Midgets will play on Sunday in Santa Clara. Check the Vikings Web site for their opponents and game-start times.
Hollister Pop Warner registration continues to be open to all players and cheerleaders for the 2009 season. Those who are interested may download the form from their Web site, and mail it into the organization. The Hollister Pop Warner Web site is: http://www.eteamz.com/HollisterPopWarner/.
