Fri.-Sat., August 11-12, 2023
Finally, after weeks of mind numbing practices, it was time for high school and Pop Warner teams to compete against new faces, it was the weekend for scrimmages all over the southland.
Laurie put me and our friends on notice
about her intentions for the next five months
On Friday, I met Paul Sabolic for a quick dinner at the Cuckoo Rooster restaurant in Agoura for a heavenly fried chicken breast sandwich.
We were then headed to nearby Oak Park H.S. to watch the 6:00 p.m. Eagles' scrimmage against the El Camino Real H.S. Conquistadors coached by Paul's son Jason.
O.K., truth be told, ElCo is now known as the Royals not the Conquistadors due to social awareness issues. I feel safer going to their games now.
Not really.
What a BEAUTIFUL night
for American football!
ElCo in blue on Offense
Blue skies, gentle breezes, palm trees
swaying and an ElCo TD in sight
It all starts up front
TOUCHDOWN CONQUISTADORS!
I mean Royals, of course.
A solid crowd was on hand
for a scrimmage
The high school football season starts in earnest next weekend.
Oak Park (7-5 in 2022) will host the Buena H.S. Bulldogs (5-6 in 2022).
El Camino Real (5-6 in 2022) will open their season on the road vs. the Palisades H.S. Dolphins (10-4 in 2022).
Both of these games will kickoff at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 18th.
Unfortunately, due to incompetence and/or apathy on the part of the El Camino Real Administration's leadership team, the Royals will play all of their games on the road for the second straight season. In the extreme heat during the Summer of 2022, ElCo's artificial turf game field melted. Deemed unsafe to play or practice on, absolutely nothing has happened over the last 14 months to rectify the situation.
Amazing . . .
On Saturday, we made the short drive to Newbury Park H.S. for Michael and Jacob's Camarillo Stingers' Sophomore team scrimmages against the Calabasas Rams and Simi Valley Bulldogs.
Each scrimmage consisted of 40 plays, half on Offense, half on Defense with no Special Teams being used.
No Special Teams, what the . . .
DE/TE Jacob, with the white
socks and black arm sleeves,
to the left of Coach Micheal
The Stingers first scrimmage started at 10:00 a.m. against the Calabasas Rams squad on a grass practice field that was in good condition.
X Player
At the Sophomore level, players are 10, 11 and 12 years old.
All the players at all levels of all 16 chapters of the Gold Coast youth Football League had to attend an official weigh-in last weekend.
The GCYFL has 6 different levels of competition based on age and weight for ages six to fourteen. The levels, from youngest to oldest are labeled Mighty Mite, Bantam, Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior and Senior.
For Jacob's Sophomores, the ages and weights are:
1o year olds, 130 lbs. max, X players unlimited weight
11 year olds, 110 lbs. max, X players up to 140 lbs.
12 year olds, 85 lbs., NO X players allowed
If you are designated as an X player, it means that you must play in the Offensive and Defensive lines only plus you are not allowed on any of the Special Teams.
Only three of the Sophomore Stingers 24 man roster are X players.
Time to "PLAY BALL!" . . .
Stingers on Offense with a
GREAT surge by the line!
Stinger Cut Back
Jacob at TE with the towel
blocking on the "Second Level"
Good Stalk Block, Jacob!
Jacob with good arm extension
on this Drive Block
Second Level blocking again
Stingers gang tackling
the Rams ball carrier
The Stingers Defensive Line
re-establishing the line of scrimmage!
One of Michael's former Newbury Park
students, Nolan Story, was a scorekeeper
during the first scrimmage
Nolan was an outstanding RB/DB as a Senior last year for the Panthers eleven.
Another solid Stingers cutback
Camarillo takes to the air
A huge reception by this
Stingers receiver
A Camarillo REVERSE!
This would be another completion
for the vaunted Stingers aerial assault
Jacob's Second Level blocking
assignments at TE are endless
Jacob, on the far right, pass
rushing from his DE position
Keep working your hands
and running your feet, Jacob!
Turning the corner on the Calabasas
OT and heading to the QB
All of this led to this proud moment . . .
Jacob, the DE on the far side,
getting the Stingers only
QB Sack of the day with a solid
form tackle
Note his teammates and Laurie's excitement right after Jacob's QB Sack.
To say that this was a proud moment for Michael, Laurie and myself would be a tremendous understatement.
The Stingers 10 year old X player
overwhelming the Rams QB
The Stingers played surprisingly well in outscoring and, frankly, outplaying the Rams in this scrimmage.
The players, coaches and parents were all walking on the proverbial Cloud Nine after this effort by the Sophomores.
The second scrimmage would take place in Newbury Park's George Hurley Stadium against the Simi Valley Bears at 11:00 p.m.
Stingers in Hot Pursuit of
this Bears RB
Stingers Defense swarming again
A Pick-Six by a Stingers OLB
Offense is still all about the
ability to BLOCK!
Carrying the ball attracts a
LOT of Bears as it turns out
The Stingers were able to consistently
turn the corner on the Bears
A Stinger breaking into the
open field yet again . . .
. . . and again . . .
. . . and again
Stingers TD run
This does NOT look good
for our RB
RUN TO THE BALL!
One-on-One battles occur on
every play at every position
The Stingers are again past the
line of scrimmage
The Stingers last TD of the day
The Camarillo Sophomores were in complete control of the Simi Valley Bears in this scrimmage.
Needless to say, the two outstanding performances by our favorite GCYFL team brought HUGE smiles to all of us in attendance.
Only one thing to do now . . .
. . . meet at Topper's Pizza in
Camarillo to relive the day's heroics
The kids, coaches and parents were all more than happy to share some food, drink and brand new memories with each other.
What a great start to the season, we are all very proud of Jacob's efforts today.
Based on today's performances by the 13 Sophomore teams involved in these scrimmages at Newbury Park H.S. will be divided into two leagues with schedules being announced by the end of the week.
The two GCYFL Sophomore leagues will start playing games on Saturday, August 26th.
Or maybe a slice of
Victory Pizza!
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