Saturday, August 26, 2023
Finally, after five weeks of practice, the start of the 2023 Pop Warner season was upon us!
Our Grandson Jacob a member of
the Stingers' Sophomore Team
This would be Jacob's second season playing American tackle football for Camarillo's chapter of the Gold Coast Youth Football League.
The Stingers would be on their home field at Camarillo H.S. on what was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day for American football!
The Kickoff was slated for 4:00 p.m.
The Stingers opponent today would be the Simi Valley Bulldogs Orange team. Simi Valley had enough players at this 10-11-12 year old age group to form two Sophomore teams. The Bulldogs Black team is considered to the better of the two Simi Valley Sophomore clubs.
Camarillo only has one 25 player team at the Sophomore level.
Jacob long snapping during
pre-game warm-ups
The Stingers returned the
opening kickoff TO THE HOUSE!
What a GREAT way to start the season, 6-0 Stingers!
It should be noted that, at this level, there are no regulations restricting what numbers linemen, backs and receivers can wear.
#99 Jacob on the ensuing kickoff . . .
. . . Jacob making a kickoff tackle
The Stingers Offensive Line
creating a HUGE hole!
Camarillo player in hot pursuit
DE Jacob pressuring the Bulldogs QB
Camarillo Offense scoring a TD
Jacob again harassing the
Simi Valley passer
A trio of Stingers tracking down
a Bulldog ball carrier
This Bulldog fumble was recovered
in the End Zone by . . .
Defensive TD!
Now playing CB, Jacob deflected
this pass which almost resulted
in a possible "Pick-Six"
Jacob and Coach Michael in a
Father-Son bonding moment
on the sideline
Camarillo with a Two-Point PAT run
The Stingers Power Sweep
Jacob, #99, with a solid block on the edge defender.
The Stingers led 30-0 midway through the Third Quarter which triggered the Pop Warner Mercy Rule. The rest of the game was played with a running clock.
30-6 was the Final Score in
favor of the Stingers
Since I have long felt that shutouts are Fascist, I was happy to see the Bulldogs score in the Fourth Quarter.
Leaving the field with a modicum of dignity is important for all of these players, win or lose.
Up next for the Stingers is another home game next Saturday, September 2nd, at 2:00 p.m. against the Calabasas Rams Gold team.
The Stingers post-game celebration
Michael and Jacob were both
happy after the game
Michael is the Stingers Defensive Coordinator.
Justin Schmidt did a fine job
as the Head Referee today
Justin played in the Offensive Line for us at Rio Mesa H.S. in the early 1990s.
Michael and Justin were teammates
and classmates at Rio Mesa H.S.
Abe Sanchez with his son and daughter
joining us for a post-game photo
Abe is one of the Simi Valley coaches. His son was the Bulldogs starting Center and his daughter is a Simi Valley cheerleader.
In the late 1980s, Abe was an Offensive Lineman for us at Westlake H.S.
Seeing Justin and Abe today confirmed it for me yet again, it's such a small world.
The boys at Freda's Pizza for a
post-game celebratory dinner
American football AND
the Tour de France?
It was truly a good day to be alive.
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