For the second year in a row, the Hollister Viking Junior Pee
Wees were crowned the Pacific Northwest Regional Champions after
they defeated the Washington Jets 34-6 Saturday.
Hollister defeats Washington 34-6 to advance
Kitina Martin – Special to the Free Lance
For the second year in a row, the Hollister Viking Junior Pee Wees were crowned the Pacific Northwest Regional Champions after they defeated the Washington Jets 34-6 Saturday.
For the second year in a row, the Vikings (13-0) will now advance to the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
Hollister will fly out Saturday for Orlando, and will have a chance at the national title. As representatives of the Pacific Northwest, the Vikings are scheduled to play on Tuesday, Dec. 4 and Friday, Dec. 7.
The Vikings also have two cheer teams that have earned their chance at the national title in Orlando as well. The Junior Pee Wee and the Pee Wee Cheerleaders will leave Saturday to compete in the Pop Warner National Cheer and Dance Championship. The Junior Pee Wee Cheerleaders will compete on Monday, Dec. 3, and the Pee Wee Cheerleaders will compete on Wednesday, Dec. 5.
But before they could book their tickets to Florida, the Vikings had a date with Washington last weekend at Woodside High School.
On a cold but crisp Saturday morning at the Pacific Northwest Regional Championship, the Jets started off on their own 29-yard line, but the Hollister defense proved that they have gotten stronger and stronger over time.
Dustin Borba and Enrique Rodriguez came out of nowhere to tackle the Jets’ ball carrier for no gain. On fourth down, the Vikings blocked the punt and Chris Cook returned the ball to the 17-yard line.
Hollister quarterback Tyler Fhurong handed off to Cook, who ran 17 yards into the end zone for the first points of the game. The Vikings went for two points, and with Fhurong kicking, held an 8-0 lead.
The Jets offense then took their place on the field, but Phillip Castro prevented the Jets’ ball carrier to move the football. After a completed a pass, Matthew Rabago made a touchdown-saving tackle, and Juan Juarez also stepped up and stopped the Jets.
Cody Freitas, Russell Enz and Kenny Lee, together, backed up the Jets behind the line of scrimmage. On fourth-and-five, the Jets decided to pass the ball, but Austin Cascio snagged the ball and ran 60 yards for another quick six points. Once again, Fhurong split the uprights to put Hollister up 16-0.
The Jets offense then tried to put something together from their 40-yard line, but Borba was able to get through and brought down the ball carrier for a loss of five yards. The Jets then tried to convert on a third-and-20, but it was deja vu, only this time, Josh George picked off a Jets pass and ran 25 yards for the end zone. Still in the first quarter, the Vikings led 22-0.
On the ensuing drive, Hollister’s Ezzie Lovato, George, Borba, Tommy Ford, Cook, Lee, Castro, Enz, Freitas, Cascio and Fhurong worked together as a team to shut down the Jets offense, and Castro intercepted a pass to bring the Vikings’ offense back onto the field.
With Josh George at quarterback, Isaiah Caudillo, Isaias Perez, Kyle George and Castro carried the ball for the Vikings. However, the Vikings fumbled the ball and the Jets offense came back on to the field.
Jonathan Sanchez tackled the Jets’ ball carrier for a loss of yardage, and on the very next play, Cook recovered a Jets fumble. Manuel Zuniga, Rodriguez, Freitas, Cook, George, Fhurong and Sanchez all played tough on the offensive line, while Bryan Noble and Caudillo carried the ball for yardage.
The second half was a little tougher for the Vikings, but they proved they can rise to the occasion when need be. On the first play of the second half, Cook returned the kickoff 50 yards to the end zone.
Lovato, Robles, Andrew Huaracha, Jose Bustillos, Marcus Flores, Saige Freitas, Donavon Mahler, Evan Weatherly, Shraee Harrison and Marc Martindelcampo held tough against the Jets. But Washington was able to put their first points on the board with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
The Vikings, however, were still not done putting points on the board. Cody Freitas and Bryan Noble led the ground attack against the Jets, while Fhurong then handed the ball to Cook who ran outside and into the end zone for Hollister.
The Jets had one last chance on offense, but Hollister was too tough. Huaracha and Joseph Horn shut the offense down, while Lee and Enz stood tough against the Jets’ ball carrier. The game ended when Josh George took a knee with the scoreboard reading Vikings 34, Jets 6.
