Saturday, October 12, 2024
Today marked the last regular season games of the 2024 Gold Coast Youth Football League Pop Warner season. As what seems to be always, our Junior American Conference Camarillo Stingers Blue squad was on the road.
It must be noted that, if nothing else, the powers that be anointed our players as a Band of Road Warriors this season.
We played a seven game regular season schedule with only ONE game at our home field, Camarillo H.S.
In order, these were the sites of our games with the round trip mileage listed from Camarillo H.S.
at Santa Barbara City College - 95 miles
at Simi Valley H.S. - 50 miles
at Buena H.S. - 30 miles
at Channel Islands H.S. - 25 miles
at Camarillo H.S.
at Pacifica H.S. - 20 miles
at Saugus H.S. - 90 miles
Whoever made up this schedule really needs to be replaced.
But I digress. We had a game to play today before starting a playoff run next Saturday against an as of yet unknown opponent, but most likely on the road.
What else is new?
Junior Blue Team
4 Wins - 2 Losses
at
Junior Grey Team
1 Win - 5 Losses
Saugus would put up a much better fight than their record would indicate.
Could Camarillo break out of their two game losing streak?
It was a BEAUTIFUL day for
American football at Saugus H.S.!
Out marched the Stingers
One injured Stinger jumping
for joy during warm-ups
Hmmm . . .
Our grandson, Jacob (#99),
was ready to have a BIG game . . .
. . . and he would
Part of the California Aqueduct
bringing much needed water to the
L.A. Basin from Northern California
Jacob was one of the Captains today
The Spartans came to play, but
could they hold on to the ball?
A GREAT Stingers Strip Sack . . .
. . . led to the first turnover of the game
The determined Saugus Defense forced a turnover on downs at the three yard line.
Saugus passing out of their End Zone
Stingers would need great pursuit
all game long
Jacob making a tackle
Another Saugus receiver getting
swarmed under
FUMBLE!
The Stingers' Defense would recover this fumble, their second turnover of the game.
BOMBS AWAY!
Camarillo QB scrambling for a gain
Again the Spartans' Defense came up with a stop on downs.
Battling on Defense again
QB SACK!
This was a good Punt Return
Camarillo RB #55 is small of stature
but HUGE of heart!
The Stingers with balance running
the ball effectively this week
First and Goal at the Ten Yard Line, the
Stingers' QB looks left and fires the ball to . . .
. . . old #99!
Jacob hauls the pass in
at the One Yard Line . . .
. . . fights off a defender . . .
. . . spins like a Whirling Dervish . . .
. . . and scores the first TD of his career!
YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!
No celebrating. Just hand the ball
to a ref, almost like he had
been there before
Neither I, nor anyone else in his family was calm at this point I can 100% assure you.
The QB's Mother caught the
TD pass play on her phone
Jacob, how do you feel about that first TD?
Gotcha!
The PAT was the last play of the First Quarter but was not successful.
End of the First Quarter
Camarillo - 6
Saugus - 0
Saugus quick completions to
the Flats meant . . .
. . . that Jacob had to pursue . . .
. . . and make a tackle
Little #55 also plays DB and is
making a solid tackle on this pass . . .
. . . with an assist by #99
Good Defensive Line play
by these two Stingers
Interception Stingers . . .
. . . that was returned nicely by #55
Once again the Spartans' Defense stymied the Camarillo drive, the Stingers were back on Defense where they needed someone to make a Big Play.
Here is the start of the needed Big Play
It stated with a Saugus backwards pass that came in too high and too hot for the Spartans RB to handle.
BALL ON THE TURF!
Who wants it?
Still loose
At the 15 yard line, old #99 Scoops . . .
. . . and sets sail for the Goal Line
Getting closer . . .
. . . almost there at the six . . .
Please take note of #99's parental units along on the fence.
His Father is pointing towards pay dirt in case Jacob doesn't know where it is.
His Mother, with the blue umbrella, is wisely taking this play as an opportunity to work and improve on her vertical jump skills.
OH MY GOODNESS . . .
. . . Jacob just scored not only the
second TD of his career but his second
TD of the game!
The PAT was again unsuccessful, but the Stingers led 12-0.
Despite the turn of events,
the Spartans were still competing
The Camarillo Defensive Line was
still competing too!
Oh my goodness, not again?
The odd shaped oblate spheroid
took a favorable Saugus bounce . . .
. . . that led to a . . .
. . . Saugus recovery on the last
play of the Second Quarter
Halftime Score
Camarillo - 12
Saugus - 0
More Trench Warfare to start
the Second Half
More solid QB Pressure by the
Stingers' Defensive Line
Not quite sure why #78 is rushing
a Saugus lineman instead of their QB
Another completion in the Flat . . .
. . . means more pursuit and another
tackle for our favorite Defensive End
Maybe he has lost a contact lens
A splendid catch followed by a . . .
. . . long run for another Camarillo TD!
The Stingers PAT woes continued but they did extend their lead to 18-0.
The Spartans effort would simply
NOT go away!
Chasing down a Saugus ball
carrier but . . .
. . . gently taking him to the turf
The Spartans' aerial attack continued
Jacob did not get close to this pass . . .
. . . but the Stingers Free Safety was
all over it downfield and . . .
. . . then set sail up the field
The Saugus coach was not happy
at this latest turnover
I'm sure that he was much happier after the Spartans' Defense got the ball back again without giving up a score.
Gutsy #55 with a dazzling interception
On the first play of the ensuing
series, #55 took it TO THE HOUSE!
The PAT attempt was again no good
End of the Third Quarter
Camarillo - 24
Saugus - 0
Holy Mother of God!
The Saugus ball is on the ground again
Too busy concentrating on pursuing the RB, the Saugus QB was the only one who saw the ball and just fell on it.
Another backward pass that, this
time, the RB was able to corral
Break Down
RUN TO THE BALL!
Both teams were still playing
hard on every down
The Saugus Defense was still active
despite the score and the turnovers
Another tackle
Another Camarillo completion
Interesting Straight Arm situation
Breaking into the open
Almost to the Goal Line
He beat the defender but this Camarillo WR's potential TD was negated by a holding call.
No problem, the Stingers QB
soon scrambled in for a TD
Jacob, playing WR, had a great block that convoyed the QB the last five yards into the End Zone. The Camarillo WR Coach went over the top in his praise for Jacob on the play.
Another missed PAT but the Stingers were up 30-0 with 6:05 left in the game and a Mercy Rule running clock now in play.
The Stingers were still running and . . .
. . . tackling
Here we go again . . .
. . . the Spartans ball is on the turf . . .
. . . and Jacob scoops it up . . .
. . . only 50 yards from another TD . . .
. . . he was able to break this tackle . . .
. . . and keep running . . .
. . . only to go down after getting
clipped at the ankles by this diving
Spartan RB
No cigar, but he did return the Saugus fumble 25 yards into their territory.
One last drive with a new RB
toting the rock
Getting into the open field but
that holding on the right would
draw a penalty flag
Still, it was a nice run by #66
One more Sweep in the other
direction and the game was over
Final Score
Camarillo (5-2) - 30
Saugus (1-6) - 0
Both teams played hard and gave great physical effort but Saugus' inability to hold onto the rock was the obvious difference in the game.
To sum up Jacob's day, he was a Captain, he caught one pass for a ten yard TD, he blocked with high efficiency as a WR, he recovered two fumbles that he returned 40 yards and a TD, he was in on a whole lot of tackles as a DE and all of his Punt snaps were spot on.
Most importantly, none of us had a heart attack watching his best day of football.
To date.
Now we await the GCYFL's announcement of the Junior American Conference playoff bracket.
It was DEFINITELY time to celebrate.
After every trip to Saugus or Santa
Clarita we stop here on the way home
It a nice sports bar located in Santa Paula, about half the way back to Camarillo.
Our goofy but lovable family
Of course Mary's unicorn
just LOVES sports!
What a day he had today!
After a good dinner at The Draft, Jacob asked if we could get some ice cream?
Santa Paula has a Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors located on the way to the freeway, so off we went.
I had a scoop of this in honor of
friend Craig Sweeney who passed
away much too soon
When we were kids, this flavor at Baskin-Robbins was known as Plum Nuts, the name has changed but it still tastes great.
It was Craig's go-to flavor over 60 years ago as students at St. Phillip the Apostle Catholic School. Truth be told it is delicious and no one had to twist my arm to order it on this occasion.
Let's finally finish this long post with a look at today's doings in the Gold Coast Youth Football League.
Gold Coast Youth Football League
Junior American Conference
Saturday, October 12, 2024 Schedule
Camarillo Stingers Blue (5-2) - 30
Saugus Spartans Grey (1-6) - 0
Simi Valley Bulldogs Black (6-1) - 14
Santa Clarita Aztecs (6-1) - 0
North Valley Bears (7-0) - 50
Simi Valley Bulldogs Orange (2-5) - 14
Calabasas Rams Gold (3-4) - 12
Camarillo Stingers Grey(4-3) - 6
Santa Clarita Wildcats White (5-2) - 28
Santa Clarita Grizzlies (1-6) - 0
Oxnard Knights (4-3) - 46
Newbury Park Steelers Gold (2-5) - 28
Ventura Packers White (2-5) - 28
Santa Barbara Saints Black (0-8) - 12
Bye:
Saugus Spartans White (5-2)
GCYFL American Junior Conference
Final Regular Season Standings
1. North Valley Bears 7-0
2T. Simi Valley Bulldogs Black 6-1
Santa Clarita Aztecs 6-1
4T. Camarillo Stingers Blue 5-2
Saugus Spartans White 5-2
Santa Clarita Wildcats White 5-2
7T. Camarillo Stingers Grey 4-3
Oxnard Knights 4-3
9. Calabasas Rams Gold 3-4
10T. Newbury Park Steelers Gold 2-5
Simi Valley Bulldogs Orange 2-5
Ventura Packers White 2-5
13T. Santa Clarita Grizzlies 1-6
Saugus Spartans Grey 1-6
15. Santa Barbara Saints Black 0-8
Saturday, October 19, 2024 Schedule
GCYFL Junior American Conference Playoffs
To Be Announced
We've been led to believe that it will be an eight team playoff bracket.
As for tie breakers needed to seed the tournament, the Simi Valley Bulldogs Black teams 14-0 win this past weekend over the Santa Clarita Aztecs should give the Bulldogs the #2 seed and the Aztecs the #3 seed.
To break the three way tie for the #4-5-6 seeds will be a bit more difficult. The Santa Clarita Wildcats White's 8-0 win over our Camarillo Stingers Blue gives them the advantage but neither team played the Saugus Spartans White team that is also tied for fourth place.
Similarly, the two teams tied for seventh place and the last two playoff spots, the Oxnard Knights and the Camarillo Stingers Grey team, did not play each other.
We'll just have to wait and see what the GCYFL decides to do to break the ties and seed the tournament.
All in all, this has been a wonderful Pop Warner experience on so many levels.
Go Stingers GO!
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