Saturday, September 14, 2024
It was a cool, overcast day, a definite break from the oppressive heat of the last few weeks.
In other words, it was a BEAUTIFUL day for American football!
Thus, we headed to Channel Islands H.S. in Oxnard for a Pop Warner game.
Jacob would not be suiting up today due to his ongoing back issues that started on Wednesday. He is feeing better but was still not ready for the contact that playing Defensive End, Wide Receiver and all Special Teams would require.
We were still there to support the Stingers.
Gold Coast Youth Football League
Week #4
4 Wins - o Losses
at
1 Win - 1 Loss
The games between these two clubs the past two years have offered the same plot. Oxnard had a small number of players on their roster who played extremely hard in the First Half before wilting in the heat and losing in the Second Half in large part to the Stingers superior numbers.
Today there was no heat, the number of players suited out on both sidelines was about the same and injuries to the Stingers were all in play.
For Camarillo, the big issue was at Quarterback. The projected starting QB broke his wrist in practice before the first game was even played and is scheduled to return for the last game of the regular season. The backup QB played extremely well in the first three weeks of the season but broke his collar bone in last week's game against the Ventura Packers.
Next man up!
We would be going with a Wide Receiver at QB in this one and a left hander to boot.
#22 for the Knights was a
one-man wrecking crew
A "Three and Out" by the Stingers Defense was a good start but it would not be repeated.
#21 at QB ready to lead the squad
Our Offensive Line was intact
which boosted everyone's confidence
The Stingers were definitely NOT
shy about going to the air early on
The Ground Game was in sync
Catch the pass and RUN!
The Pass Blocking today was
EXCELLENT!
This short pass to #85 was completed
Knocking on Door
The Stingers ran the ball into the End Zone to take the early lead. The Knights stopped the Camarillo two-point conversion attempt.
End of the First Quarter
Camarillo 6 - Oxnard 0
The ensuing Knights' drive was irritating
in its simplicity and its efficiency
Their plan was simple enough, give the ball to #22 over and over and over again.
He truly was a marvelous ball carrier with equal parts power and speed combined with a humble demeanor that I liked.
Occasionally another Knight got the
call to tote the rock . . .
. . . but #22 was the main culprit
It often looked like a scene from "The Wreck of the Hesperus" with Stinger bodies bouncing off of him.
The fact that the Knights converted on three Third and Long situations on this long, time consuming drive added to Camarillo's concern.
Gang Tackling was the only answer
Is their coach allowed on the field?
Thankfully, the Stingers pursuit arrived but the Knights had converted one of those aforementioned Third and Long situations.
MUCH better by the Camarillo
Defense on this play . . .
. . . but not so much on this one
Oxnard's #22 had his first TD of the day but the Stingers did stop the Knights' two-point attempt. The score was tied at 6-6 with 2:39 left in the First Half.
On the Stingers first Offensive play, the Knights intercepted a long pass. This would be the first of four Camarillo turnovers that certainly made the outcome of the game interesting.
The Oxnard receiver with the
pink gloves is OPEN!
Not #22 again
#22 with his second TD of the day
The Knights converted on their two-point try to lead 14-6 with only 48.8 seconds remaining in the Second Quarter.
Could the Stingers respond?
A pass in the Flat to a Stingers RB
looked like a short gain . . .
. . . until the receiver broke a
few tackles and . . .
. . . cruised into the End Zone
for about a 50-yard TD!
Going for TWO using the same play!
Complete but Uh-Oh . . .
. . . can he break this tackle?
Yes INDEED!
With 21.2 seconds left in the First Half, we were all tied up once again at 14-14.
Did the Stingers leave too much time on the clock for Oxnard's #22?
#22 getting to the Edge
This looks much better to me
Five Stingers' defenders closing
in on #22 to end the Second Quarter
Halftime
Camarillo 14 - Oxnard 14
While Oxnard relies on #22 to advance
the ball, the Stingers use three RBs
to effectively run the rock
Another efficient Camarillo
short pass completion
#22 plays Defense too for Oxnard
and turned this juggling interception . . .
. . . into a Pick-Six to start the
third stanza
It was his third TD on the day. The Stingers stopped the Knights' two-point PAT attempt again. With 8:38 left in the Third Quarter it was Oxnard 20 - Camarillo 14.
Patience on the ground
More much needed swarming
by the Camarillo Defense
The Stingers primary RB, #25,
was having a GREAT day too
Running wild around the right flank
Cut and Slash with a lead blocker
This big pass completion led to . . .
. . . another Camarillo rushing TD
The Knights' Defense stopped the Stingers' two-point play. The game was tied again with 1:23 left in the Third Quarter.
End of the Third Quarter
Camarillo 20 - Oxnard 20
A solid one-on-one tackle
More of the Camarillo rushing attack
Camarillo's #25 is TOUGH!
Camarillo was excited to see someone
other than #22 carry the ball
GREAT arm wrap bought down
#22 this time!
So did this AWESOME example of
swarming the ball carrier
A lot of good Defense by both teams led to a scoreless Fourth Quarter.
End of the Fourth Quarter
Camarillo 20 - Oxnard 20
Overtime it was then!
They use the high school overtime tie-breaker by placing the ball at the ten yard line, First and Goal.
Each team gets a possession. If they are still tied after the first overtime they repeat the process again until we have a winner.
Since no one at this level kicks extra points of field goals, there really is only one strategy, score a TD and make your two-point PAT.
On the Stingers first play of Overtime,
our RB got to the Edge . . .
. . . turned the Corner . . .
. . . and scored the needed TD!
The two-point PAT Pass was PERFECT!
Camarillo led 28-20 but now it was #22's, I mean Oxnard's, turn in the Overtime period.
SURPRISE!
As expected, #22 got the ball. He was swarmed by the Stingers but still moved the pile about four yards after contact through sheer power and determination.
#22 scored his fourth TD of the game
behind this block on Fourth Down
Could Camarillo stop him on the ensuing two-point play?
No
End of the First Overtime
Camarillo 28 - Oxnard 28
Only one thing we could do now, a Second Overtime.
TD CAMARILLO!
The Two point conversion was successful and the Stingers had a 36-28 lead.
Again, it was Oxnard's turn to respond.
An excellent Third Down pass
break-up by this Stingers DB on
a pass to, who else, the Knights' #22
It was now Fourth Down and everybody in the Western Hemisphere knew who was getting the ball.
The Oxnard coaching knew it too, so they opted to have #22 throw a Sweep Pass to his right. The Stingers Defense swarmed him yet again but he improvised and reversed his field to the left.
Was anybody wearing a white uniform left on that side of the field?
Fortunately, yes!
But could they bring him down?
HANG ON #15!
He was brought to the ground
at the ten yard line, GAME OVER!
WHAT A GAME!
Our young Stingers showed a lot of resiliency, grit and determination in winning this one against a tough Oxnard team that came to play today.
Overcoming a deficit turnover margin of 0-4 in the game and still winning against a this Knights club was amazing.
Final Score
DOUBLE Overtime
Camarillo (4-0) - 36
Oxnard (1-2) - 28
The Stingers have a bye next week before resuming play on Saturday, September 28th at Camarillo H.S. at 5:00 p.m. against a good Simi Valley Bulldogs Black (2-1) team that lost 20-18 today to the North Valley Bears (3-0).
After the game with John DuBose
John and I coached together for several years at Rio Mesa H.S. He is one of the best, most honorable person I have ever met over the many years of involvement in American football.
It was great to catch up him again today.
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