Camarillo's Oldest Middle School Flag Football Rivalry Renewed

Tue. & Wed., October 24-25, 2023

A crisp, overcast day was perfect on Wednesday for the latest edition of Camarillo's oldest middle school rivalry flag football game.

The Monte Vista Toros

Record Unknown

at

The Las Colinas Mustangs

5 Wins - 0 Losses

2023 Las Colinas Season Results

Beat Rio Vista 44-16

Beat C.A.P.E. 29-6

Beat Los Primeros 7-6 OT

Beat Mesa Union 41-0

Beat Santa Rosa 2-0

What a BEAUTIFUL day for an

American flag football game!

Mustangs Pride is displayed all

over the Las Colinas campus

It should be noted that Monte Vista and Las Colinas are the only two comprehensive middle schools, grades 6-8, left in Camarillo.

It should be noted that our two sons, Andrew and Michael, were both Monte Vista Toros back in the day.

There used to be a third comprehensive middle school in town, Los Altos, but it has been converted into the grades K-8 Pleasant Valley School of Engineering and Arts.

The other four Camarillo schools that the Mustangs have played are also grades K-8  academy or magnet style schools.

The Mustangs first game of the season was against Rio Vista, a comprehensive middle school from the nearby community of El Rio.   

One last meeting before Kickoff

Tensions were running high, especially on the Toros sideline.

LET THE GAME BEGIN!

Jacon, #5 in blue, covering the

Mustangs opening game Kickoff

Monte Vista had an energetic

cheerleader group at the game

The first drive by the Toros was problematic

as they marched down the field

The Mustangs Defense had to

rally to save the day

Surrounded

Team pursuit is a good thing!

Jacob ripping through a block

from his starting OLB position

Good Defense like this eventually

led to a Toros punt

The Mustangs outstanding QB

turning the corner

The Mustangs have the good habit of

adding good runs after catching passes

After scoring first, the Mustangs

kicked off yet again

It became quickly apparent that the Mustangs had far superior kickers and punters to the Toros. The field position gained by these Las Colinas assets would prove to be a huge advantage.

End of the First Quarter

Las Colinas - 6

Monte Vista - 0

The Mustangs QB is on the

loose yet again

Jacob at WR escaping a jam

on his pass route release . . .

. . . IT WORKED!

Another Mustangs pass reception

followed by a . . .

. . . LONG, FLOATING TD RUN!

Back on Defense,

Jacob was edge rushing

Nice high point grab by a

Toros receiver

Two Monte Vista receivers in the same spot though is not a good thing.

Toros passing under pressure

INTERCEPTION MUSTANGS!

The Mustangs have a

solid ground game

She can fly when she gets the edge

Pursuing to the ball

Just before the Halftime break,

another Mustangs bomb for a TD

The two-point PAT leaping catch . . .

. . . landed inches in-bounds!

At the Halftime Break

Las Colinas - 20

Monte Vista - 0

With the game well in hand, the Las Colinas coaches decided to rest their starting QB in the Second Half.

A Mustangs receiver streaking

across the field after a catch

Another good example of

high pointing the ball

Some new faces on the Mustangs

Defense but with the same results

Jacob keeping a Toros blocker at bay

Toros still battling

The Las Colinas pursuit

eventually tracked this Toro down

End of the Third Quarter

Las Colinas - 20

Monte Vista - 0

Look who showed up to the game!

Why none other than our friend Debi's granddaughter Quinn.

She was, as always, full of life and happy to be alive.

The Toros scored early in the Fourth Quarter and opted to try an Onside Kick that went straight to Jacob.

The following 14 pictures, taken by an extremely proud grandfather, chronicle what happened after Jacob cleanly fielded the Toros' kick.

He started to his left with

a blocker to lead him

Jacob opts to cut back

He is hidden but in front of

#1 and #3 of the Toros

Starting to set up new blockers

as he breaks hard to his right

Jacob has a chance to turn the corner

This is looking GOOD!

REALLY GOOD!

Go Jacob GO!

The race is on!

Trouble on the horizon

One BIG Toro to beat

The moment of truth

Instead of going for the flag, the

Toros defender shoved Jacob out of

bounds with two hands to the shoulder

While this is a perfectly legal move in football, it is not in flag football where the rule of the day is, "play the flag, not the player."

There was no penalty flag.

Jacob now out of bounds after

his exciting play

Yes, his parents, sister and grandparents were all smiling from ear to ear.

AWESOME!

GREAT Catch!

Fourth Down and Short

Philadelphia Eagles Tush Push?

No, faked it and then gave the ball to our speed demon outside.

Great call.

There she goes on this excellent

Fourth Down fake Tush Push

Now she makes a solid cut back

I love the Monte Vista coach's expression on the far right watching this interesting play unfold in front of him.

Breaking . . .

. . . ANKLES!

The play ended when the Mustangs

Whirling Dervish finally got her flag pulled

One-on-One on the perimeter

The Mustangs responded to the

Toros TD with this TD pass

The Mustangs Defense was

still running to the ball

One last flag pull and

the game was OVER!

Final Score

Las Colinas (6-0) - 27

Monte Vista (?-?) - 6

The Mustangs last game of the 2023 flag football season will be the Camarillo Bowl next Wednesday, November 1st at a site and time to be announced.

The opponent?

Why these self same Monte Vista Middle School Toros.

A word of caution Mustangs. Don't get cocky!

First, it is hard to beat an opponent twice in one season.

Second, a 6-0 record is great but remember that one was a 7-7 overtime win and another was by a slim 2-0 score.

Keep playing tough, smart flag football while humbly respecting the Toros in the rematch.

GO MUSTANGS GO!