Saturday, October 21, 2023
Today was the final day of the 2023 Pop Warner regular season for our beloved Camarillo Stingers.
It was supposed to be a home game for the Stingers but due to scheduling conflicts at Camarillo H.S. the game was moved to Ventura H.S.'s Larrabee Stadium/Turner Field complex.
The view from atop Larrabee Stadium
is a good one with one of the
Channel Islands in the distance
VHS proudly named their stadium after
this highly decorated alum
The VHS field at Larrabee Stadium is named
in honor of this hard hitting DB alum
The game today would be a tough one for the Stingers to be sure.
7 Wins - 0 Losses
vs.
4 Wins - 3 Losses
The Rams Black team entered the game in first place in the GCYFL's 13 team Sophomore Conference. They were the last undefeated team left in the conference.
The Stingers were in a three way tie for Fourth Place in the standings. Their 4-3 record matches those of the Saugus Spartans Navy team that defeated the Stingers 40-14 and the Valley Rush who they did not play.
Jacob, #99, was named one of the
Captains today
It was an honor that Jacob takes seriously and with great pride.
Jacob started at Cornerback today, played Defensive End and was the Long Snapper on Punts.
Listening to the Refs instructions
prior to the coin flip
The Stingers came out running
the ball as usual
SURPRISE, a pass!
A good catch to boot,
the Stingers were on the move
Then the Rams DL got serious
The Stingers Defense would be
stressed facing two explosive
Rams Running Backs
Forcing the RB back inside
Don't over pursue him!
Great, the calvary did indeed arrive!
End of the First Quarter
Calabasas Black - 8
Camarillo - 0
Jacob now at Defensive End
He had to work against a
good Rams OT, #50
The Stingers Defense kept battling
Gang tackling is a good way
to deal with excellent RBs
Jacob pursuing
This play would become a Rams TD
in about another 25 yards
Defending this two-point play . . .
. . . was a success!
A wall of Stingers blockers
A good run by this Stingers RB
One missed block led to a
Rams tackle for loss
Jacob is our Punt Team Long Snapper
and did a good job today
The Stingers have a good Punter
The Stingers punted twice today to bring their total number of Punts in eight games to three.
Rams RB on the edge again
Thank goodness the Stingers Cavalry
arrived in the nick of time
The Stingers had a solid Kickoff
Return on this play
This run looks promising
This Rams LB, #5, is a GOOD player
OUCH!
We passed much more
today than usual
At the Halftime Intermission
Calabasas Black - 20
Camarillo - 0
I got to say hello to Mary during
the break in the action
Nic Chutuk, Mike Moon and
Jeff Festerling
Mike is the Head Coach of the 9-0 Pacifica H.S. Tritons while Nic and Jeff are Dads of Stingers players.
I coached with Mike for several seasons at Rio Mesa H.S. and even then knew that he would someday become the highly successful Head Coach that he is today.
Mike, Nic and Jeff all grew up together in Camarillo and played for the old Camarillo Roadrunners Pop Warner organization.
One of the Good Guys in the
Ventura County H.S. coaching ranks
Running to cover the
Second Half's Kickoff
Unfortunately the Stingers missed
this tackle and the Rams took this
Kickoff all the way to the House!
I have taken all of this season's Stingers game photos from the opponent's sidelines.
My two fold reasons for doing this were: A. to allow our other team photographer, a player's mother, to be on the friendlier Stingers sidelines and B. to observe the coaches that the Stingers are playing.
The Rams coaches showed exemplary composure and compassion during the contest. After return this Kickoff for a TD to make it 28-0, their coaches informed their 16 player team that they would now be playing in "Church Mode."
Church Mode meant players are no longer playing their normal positions, thus showing the Stingers a modicum of mercy.
Back to work in the trenches
Stingers RB turning the corner
Seeing a BIG Rams RB
for the first time
The Stingers tried to pass the ball
to get back into the game
Swarming another new Rams RB
A good, solid Stingers tackle
99 vs. 99
1 on 1
This play has a chance
End of the Third Quarter
Calabasas Black - 28
Camarillo - 0
Action along the Stingers sideline
The Dip and Rip move . . .
. . . worked to PERFECTION!
The Stingers Defense continued
to hustle regardless of the score
Gang tackling Stingers yet again
BALL!
Surrounding this Rams RB
A Stingers pass and . . .
. . . another
This WR/DB Ballet . . .
. . . almost led to . . .
. . . this between the legs catch,
almost
Oh no, a Free Runner off the edge
OUCH once again!
Pursuing again . . .
. . . until . . .
. . . the tackle is secured despite the
vigorous straight arm to the helmet
Lots going on in this battle
on the perimeter
Jacob closing in on a tackle
Another pass play that led to . . .
. . . another serious OUCH on the
last play of the game
Final Score
Calabasas Black (8-0) - 28
Camarillo (4-4) - 0
Calabasas has a good team that was highlighted by two explosive Running Backs, a dominant Defensive Line and an excellent Middle Linebacker.
That sounds like a winning combination to me.
The Stingers now await the announcement of the playoff brackets with the first games scheduled for next Saturday.
After the game we headed to the Ventura Topper's Pizza to relive the day.
Jeff "Santa Claus" Festerling
with Michael asking for his
Christmas swag
There are a lot of good people involved with the Stingers.
Saturday also means lots of college football action.
Hilarity amid the recent Michigan
illegal sign stealing controversy
The 6-0 Huskies had a late home game
against the 1-5 Arizona State Sun Devils
ASU upset the Huskies last year in Tempe by a score of 45-38, eventually costing the UW the opportunity to play in the PAC-12 Championship Game.
I was worried about the Huskies hangover effect after last weekend's huge 36-33 win against Oregon, their lofty #5 ranking and all of the Heisman hype surrounding the Huskies QB, Michael Penix, Jr.
As it turned out, I had reason to worry.
Thanks to the Seattle Times for
this rain soaked photo
The Sun Devils, despite their 1-5 record, came to play!
Arizona State has been a real nemesis for the Huskies, wining 13 of the 15 meetings between the two schools this century.
The Sun Devils recovered two Huskies fumbles and grabbed two interceptions while holding the UW to a paltry 15 yards rushing on 12 carries.
This did not look good at all!
In fact, the UW did not score an Offensive TD tonight. That had not happened to a Husky football team since 2001.
Fortunately, the Huskies Defense rose to the occasion allowing only one TD and then, in the Fourth Quarter, coming up with the play of the game, an 89 yard Pick Six interception!
It may have been ugly
but it was a win
The Dawgs survived an off night but they are 7-0 now.
Thanks to Utah's literally last second Field Goal to beat USC, 34-32, the Huskies are now the only remaining undefeated team in PAC-12 play.
On to our Rams on Sunday
The 3-3 Rams will host the
3-2 Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday
The bottom line on the day for me was that Jacob still enjoys playing and watching the game of football regardless of the score or circumstances and I enjoy sharing his experiences.
No comments:
Post a Comment