Coaching for Pizza: A Tough Weekend for Camarillo Stingers Pop Warner Football

Thurs.-Sun., Sept. 21-24, 2023

The Camarillo Stingers game on Saturday looked to be a tough one but it turned out to be worse than that.

It would have been much, much worse had the opponent coaches not used every means possible not to score more points once their clear cut superiority was established.

The game was played at Valencia H.S.

Home of the Vikings

3 Wins - 1 Loss

Santa Clarita Wildcats

3 Wins - 1 Loss

With both teams entering the game with 3-1 records and tied for third place in the GCYFL Sophomore Division standings. One would have thought that a competitive game was in store.

The Stingers about to Kickoff the game

This would be the last instant that the game was remotely close.

The Wildcats running game

was well executed

Stingers SS making an

open field tackle

Jacob, #99, started at CB and

is seen in pursuit

Wildcat RBs in the open field

was a common occurrence today

The Stingers OL creating space

At the end of the First Quarter, Santa Clarita was dominating so clearly that on their third TD of the quarter their QB took a knee on the PAT.

The Stingers were still looking for their first First Down of the game at this juncture.

End of the First Quarter

Santa Clarita - 22

Camarillo - 0

More battling in The Pit

This diving Stinger just

tripped up the Wildcats RB

A diving effort in return by

a Wildcats defender

A Stinger DL pressuring the

Santa Clarita QB

Jacob gathering to make

an open field tackle

Camarillo's only First Down of the

First Half came on this long run aided by . . .

. . . the definition of a Dying Cockroach,

a.k.a., Pancake Block . . .

. . . the speedy Wildcats caught the

Stingers RB

Unfortunately, the Wildcats defense stiffened and forced a turnover on downs.

Wildcats on the edge again

Most of the Second Quarter saw the Wildcats Offense gaining five to ten yards on a play before running out of bounds or voluntarily going to a knee in an attempt to keep the score down.

The Wildcats would score one more time and again kneel on the PAT.

Half Time Score

Santa Clarita - 28

Camarillo - 0

Great technique by this

Wildcats DE

A solid open field tackle

by this Stingers defender

The Wildcats Offense drove again deep into Camarillo territory and faced a 4th and Goal at the five yard line.

What would they call?

A Punt!

Another move to keep the score down by the Santa Clarita coaches.

On the ensuing possession, the Stingers turned the ball over on a fumble. Santa Clarita drove down the field again and now had a 1st and Goal at the one yard line.

They punted again.

Gracious but embarrassing.

Physical and Fast was the

Wildcats Defensive mantra

The Stingers FS skillfully

tipped this Wildcats pass away

Camarillo's FS also made this

nice grab on Offense

It was good for the Stingers only First Down of the Second Half.

It is hard to win a game when our Offense only makes two First Downs in the game.

Thanks to the Wildcats Punt team, there was no scoring in the Third Quarter.

End of the Third Quarter

Santa Clarita - 28

Camarillo - 0

In this final stanza, the Wildcats coaches took the wraps off, allowing their team to score if they had the opportunity.

The Camarillo QB trying

to turn the corner

Jacob lined up at WR in the

Fourth Quarter

BOMBS AWAY!

It looks like solid pass blocking to me by the Stingers.

Jacob at DE rushing the QB

He could go . . .

. . . no, wait, can Jacob catch him . . .

. . . YES . . .

. . . he . . .

. . . can . . .

. . . save . . .

. . . a TD on this play!

That white line on the right is the Goal Line. No TD on this play but the Wildcats would score on the next one.

Again, their QB took a knee on the PAT.

Jacob at DE on the Goal Line

on the next series

The eventual result was another Santa Clarita TD followed by another QB kneel down on the PAT.

The Final Score could have been

much, much worse

Final Score

Santa Clarita (4-1) - 40

Camarillo (3-2) - 0

The Gold Coast Youth Football League

Week in Review

GCYFL Sophomore Division Results

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Santa Clarita (4-1) 40 - Camarillo (3-2) 0

Newbury Park (4-0) 27 - Calabasas Gold (1-3) 6

Valley (3-2) 34 - Simi Valley Orange (1-3) 0

Santa Barbara (2-2) 34 - Oxnard (0-4) 0

Saugus Navy (4-1) 36 - Fillmore (2-3) 0

Simi Valley Black (1-3) 34 - Saugus White (0-5) 0

BYE: Calabasas Black (4-0)

The fact that the six teams that lost on Saturday scored a combined six points is definitely not a good look for the GCYFL.

GCYFL Sophomore Division Standings

1T. Calabasas Rams Black 4-0

Newbury Park Steelers 4-0

3T. Santa Clarita Wildcats 4-1

Saugus Spartans Navy 4-1

5T. Camarillo Stingers 3-2

Valley Rush 3-2

7. Santa Barbara Saints 2-2

8. Fillmore Raiders 2-3

9T. Calabasas Rams Gold 1-3

Simi Valley Bulldogs Black 1-3

Simi Valley Bulldogs Orange 1-3

12. Oxnard Knights 0-4

13. Saugus Spartans White 0-5

GCYFL Sophomore Division Schedule

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Camarillo (3-2) at Santa Barbara (2-2)

Calabasas Black (4-0) at Simi Valley Black (1-3)

Santa Clarita (4-1) at Newbury Park (4-0)

Simi Valley Orange (1-3) at Fillmore (2-3)

Calabasas Gold (1-3) at Oxnard (0-4)

BYES: Saugus Navy (4-1), Saugus White (0-5)

and Valley (3-2)

After the game, we stopped in Santa Paula to refresh our minds, heal our souls and replenish our bodies.

Only one place to go . . .

The Draft at the Mupu Grill

was, once again, a GREAT call!

Good food, cold beverages, lots of college football on their TVs and a wonderful staff brought life back into focus for all of us.

Speaking of college football . . .

The Huskies are Fourth in the

PAC-12 Talent Rankings

That's nice but I'll take the Dawgs 3-0 record and #8 ranking in the football polls as both being much better measurements.

The Huskies opened their final PAC-12 season at home on Saturday night against the 2-1 Cal Bears, a team that has given the mighty men who wear the purple and the gold lots of problems the last four years.