Camarillo Stingers Game Day #2

Saturday, September 2, 2023

It promised to be simply a BEAUTIFUL day for American football today!

Jacob and his fellow Camarillo Stingers

were ready for another week of

Pop Warner football

First, let's take a complete look at

the first weekend of Gold Coast Youth

Football League's Sophomore level play

GCYFL Sophomore Conference

Week #1 Results

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Camarillo 30 - Simi Valley Orange 6

Calabasas Gold 28 - Saugus White 0

Valley 14 - Santa Barbara 12

Fillmore 20 - Oxnard 6

Calabasas Black 22 - Saugus Navy 0

Santa Clarita 6 - Simi Valley Black 0

BYE: Newbury Park

Sophomore National Conference Standings

Calabasas Rams Black 1-0

Calabasas Rams Gold 1-0

Camarillo Stingers 1-0

Fillmore Raiders 1-0

Santa Clarita Wildcats 1-0

Valley Rush 1-0

Newbury Park Steelers 0-0

Oxnard Knights 0-1

Santa Barbara Saints 0-1

Saugus Spartans Navy 0-1

Saugus Spartans White 0-1

Simi Valley Bulldogs Black 0-1

Simi Valley Bulldogs Orange 0-1

GCYFL Sophomore Conference

Week #2 Schedule

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Calabasas Gold (1-0) at Camarillo (1-0)

Calabasas Black (1-0) at Santa Clarita (1-0)

Saugus White (0-1) at Fillmore (1-0)

Newbury Park (0-0) at Simi Valley Black (0-1)

Saugus Navy (0-1) at Valley (1-0)

BYES: Oxnard (0-1), Santa Barbara (0-1)

and Simi Valley Orange (0-1)

Let's take a look at the Stingers game today . . .

The Calabasas Rams Gold (1-0)

at

The Camarillo Stingers (1-0)

The game today was played at Camarillo H.S.

These two teams met up a few weeks ago in a scrimmage at Newbury Park H.S. during the GCYFL's Sophomore Jamboree.

The two teams were extremely competitive during that 40 play scrimmage.

What would an entire game, that would now also include the ever important Special Teams, bring to our American football banquet today?

Captains out!

Calabasas won the coin toss

and deferred

The Stingers had a solid

Kickoff Return to start with

good field position

The Stingers relied on their bevy

of Running Backs to advance the ball

A second Stinger RB turning

the corner early in the game

The Rams Defense pursued and

tackled well throughout the contest

Yes, #55 is a Running Back too

As a reminder, there are rules in Pop Warner regarding Offensive players wearing position specific numbers like there are at the high school, college and professional levels of the game.

Yet a fourth Camarillo RB toting

the rock in the First Quarter

Jacob is the team's long snapper

on Punts, this was the first, and when

the day was over, only Punt of the season

I have to be honest, having been an average long snapper myself back in the day, I was nervous for Jacob.

Jacob rose to the occasion and delivered a fine snap to his Punter.

Our Punter then punted the ball

directly towards the sideline where

Coach Michael was standing as the

target for his punt

It was about a 25 yard punt, out of bounds so no return and rolled dead at Coach Michael's feet.

PERFECT!

At this level of football, a 25 yard punt is considered a Ray Guy like effort.

The Calabasas RB was a mini-BEAST

Great Stinger Defensive Pursuit

The Stingers pursuit kept several good runs by #2 from becoming long TDs.

The Stingers Defensive Line

did a good job in the Red Zone

The opening stanza saw lots of yardage coupled with key defensive stops by both evenly matched squads.

End of the First Quarter

Camarillo 0 - Calabasas 0

The emphasis on running the ball and thus being forced into playing stout Defense continued in the Second Quarter.

The Calabasas RB had a DEADLY

straight arm that he used at will

Jacob at Defensive End

Jacob got off the ball quite well

The Rams started to pass the ball but

the Stingers Defense had solid coverage

More passing meant more pass rushing

GREAT pressure but . . .

. . . somehow the Rams QB flicked the ball

about a yard to, who else, their

mini-beast of a RB

The Stingers Defense continued to

swarm to the ball

Camarillo was still gobbling up

yardage but not scoring any points

Lots of blockers in front of the ball

A Stinger in the open field is

always a good thing

Unfortunately, this drive ended on a Camarillo turnover.

Back on Defense where running to

the ball has become second nature

One of about three First Half potential

Camarillo interceptions that were dropped

One of them occurred in the flat area that would most likely have been a Pick Six.

The Stingers Offensive Line

controlling the line of scrimmage

The Rams Defense was also

swarming with gusto and pride

That darn football sure does

attract a lot of attention

Ass over tea kettle is the

correct phrase, I believe

About to cut it back

Back on Defense late in the

Second Quarter meant more

Pass Rushing!

First Jacob had to beat the

Rams Offensive Tackle

Jacob turning the corner

Chasing the ball on a bad Rams

shotgun snap

Again with the Gang Tackling

by the Stingers Defense

The Pit was contentious all game long

Just as it was in the First Quarter, the two teams continued to battle with a steady rhythm of Offensive yardage gained countered by Defensive stops and/or turnovers.

Thus, scoring was still non-existent in this old school, rock and sock 'em, defensive battle.

End of the Second Quarter

Camarillo 0 - Calabasas 0

What adjustments would the competing coaching staffs make during the intermission?

The Stingers Kickoff team would

start the Third Quarter

Calabasas came out throwing the ball

On this short Rams pass the WR

split these two Stingers . . .

. . . and was headed for the game's

first score when . . .

. . . three Stingers showed up

but to no avail

The Calabasas receiver alluded them all and sailed into the End Zone for an apparent Rams TD.

Fortunately for the Stingers, there was a penalty flag laying on the field.

The call was holding by a Calabasas player.

A sigh of relief on the Stingers sideline was countered by heated anger on the Rams bench.

Unperturbed, the Rams kept

faith in their passing attack

The Stingers were pressuring the

Rams QB but he still completed

this pass somehow

One-on-One in the open field . . .

. . . no problem,

help was on the way . . .

. . . to secure the tackle

More Calabasas passing meant . . .

. . . more open field tackling

EXCELLENT PURSUIT!

This tackle finally ended the

Rams first drive of the Second Half

 

Still a 0-0 game, it was now up to the Stingers Offense to show what they could do.

He could . . .

. . . go . . .

. . . ALL THE WAY!

A one play, TD drive was an AWESOME way to respond to the Rams near TD.

Now for the all important

Two-Point PAT

The inside run was blocked well

two more points for the Stingers

Camarillo led 8-0 early in the Third Quarter.

Jacob on the Kickoff team

The Rams returning the Kickoff

The Rams started running the ball

effectively with their strong RB

One-on-One tackles against

the Rams RB are tough to execute

Uh-Oh

Eventually, in a few more plays, this impressive RB, would score a TD close the gap to Camarillo 8 - Calabasas 6.

Could the Stingers stop the Rams upcoming Two-Point PAT attempt?

YES THEY COULD!

Tremendous Camarillo penetration caught the Rams RB in the backfield, the Stingers thin lead was preserved!

The Stingers continued to

run the ball effectively

The use of four fresh, different Camarillo

RBs was a good move by the Stingers coaches

on a hot, humid day

See what I mean?

Get the ball in your OUTSIDE

arm, young man

The yardage on the ground

just kept coming

The Stingers #21 is a strong

inside the tackles runner

It is North-South at all times

by this Human Bowling Ball

of a runner

Another turnover would end this promising Camarillo drive.

The Rams continued to get

the ball to the perimeter as

the Third Quarter expired

The Fourth Quarter promised to be nerve wracking!

End of the Third Quarter

Camarillo 8 - Calabasas 6

Would Calabasas continue the throw the ball?

Why, yes they would!

That meant more pass rushing

from our favorite DE

The Rams did not abandon the

run completely though

Run pursuit is essential but

someone needs to set the edge

For the Stingers on this play,

#10 was that someone

That pesky straight

arm strikes again!

While it looks bad for #10

individually, he indeed allowed time

for the cavalry to arrive

Keep working your feet Stingers

Jacob got in on this tackle that

forced a much needed Calabasas punt

A good punt return . . .

. . . was negated by a Stingers

illegal block in the back

With less than four minutes left in the game and buried in their own end of the field, Camarillo relied on their running game to eat up the clock.

Solid but short runs led to a

Fourth Down and One at about

the Camarillo 25 yard line

The Stingers decide to go for it.

It was a gutsy call to be sure.

Give it to the Human Bowling Ball

The Stingers only needed one

but got about 15 yards on that crucial

Fourth Down play

The clock kept running.

Runs and . . .

. . . more runs were the order

of the day at this point

The clock kept running.

It brought up another Fourth Down situation but now Camarillo had the ball well into the Calabasas end of the field.

The Stingers needed about three yards for the game sealing all important First Down.

The Human Bowling Ball, #21,

was up to the task with his patented

North-South running style

The Camarillo Offensive Line did a fantastic job all day long blocking for any and everybody who carried the ball for the Stingers.

Now it was time for the best formation and play in any team's playbook . . .

VICTORY FORMATION

QB KNEEL DOWN

The Stingers successfully executed this play twice and the game was over.

The Final Score was . . .

The Stingers improved to 2-0

while the Rams are now 1-1

Up next for the Stingers is their first road game of the season to Channel Islands H.S. at 1:00 p.m. next Saturday to play the Oxnard Knights.

As for the Calabasas Rams Gold squad, they have a bye next week before playing the Santa Clarita Wildcats at home on Saturday,  September 16th.

The post victory team huddle

is always a joyous place to be

A great, hard nosed victory today for 2-0 Camarillo.

CONGRATULATIONS STINGERS!

A Good Week Punctuated by What Else, High School Football

Mon.-Fri., Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 2023

The week started off calmly but there was indeed a flurry of action with two good high school games on Thursday and Friday nights.

Or the two minute warning . . .

After visiting my Mother in Pasadena on Thursday, I had a dinner date with Joanne and Paul Sabolic before attending an El Camino Real H.S. football game where their son Jason is the Head Coach.

Joanne picked out the dinner spot for us in North Hollywood near the game site, one that none of us had ever been to before. 

I had never been in North Hollywood

or NoHo as the natives call it

Our dining spot was called the Granville. Because I had never heard of it, I looked it up on the Yelp website.

The Yelp review mentioned the type of people who would enjoy wining and dining at the Granville.

Since most people think of me as the

definitive "hipster," I knew that

I would like this spot

Since Joanne and Paul are the quintessential trendy, romantic and classy couple, I felt confident that we would all enjoy the menu and ambience to the limit.

 

The Granville building's murals

certainly peaked my interest

As for my review of the Granville, it was FANTASTIC!

We shared three amazing appetizers and then each devoured a delicious pasta dish.

If I'm ever near NoHo (I feel like a local now) again, the Granville will be my first stop.

GREAT CALL, JOANNE!

On to the game . . .

The El Camino Real Conquistadores

Wait, no, that is not right.

To appease the sensitive among us, the ECR changed their nickname from Conquistadores to the decidedly less ferocious Royals a couple of years ago.

During the game, the announcer kept referring to the ECR squad as the Bears.

Or as we finally called them, "Da Bears."

I was as confused as the announcer.

Or so I thought . . .

The school's new logo was

adopted in August of 2022

There it was, a bear on the Royals logo.

Anyway, this edition of Thursday Night Lights featured the El Camino Real H.S. Conquistadores, Royals, Bears (0-2) playing a "home" game on the road yet again.

After the artificial turf field at ECR literally melted in the Summer heat of 2022, the field was condemned and ECR was forced to play all of their 2022 games away from home.

Understandable.

Now, a year later, the ECR field has continued to sit defective and unusable forcing the Conquistadores, Royal, Bears to spend a second consecutive season on the road. The leadership of the school in mishandling the refurbishing of the field is appalling.

Unforgivable.

As for the "visiting" team playing a non-league game at home . . .

The North Hollywood Huskies

1-1 in 2023

It was a BEAUTIFUL night

for American football in NoHo

An old school natural grass field that needed mowing surrounded by a six lane, dirt track.

We were talking soon to be grass stained uniforms.

AWESOME!

A random old man at

North Hollywood H.S.

ECR in white came out

battling despite their 0-2 record

The score was 0-0 at the end of the First Quarter as ECR's much maligned defense was playing much better against the Huskies run heavy Double Wing offense.

ECR's offense was mixing it

up well in the First Half

"Da Bears" defense continued to come up big on key downs. At the intermission we were all pleasantly surprised to find ECR leading 6-0 in this slugfest.

A grass field and two teams relying heavily on their respective running games, I was in . . .

HOG HEAVEN!

A rare pass attempt

It ended up going through the ECR receiver's hands and into the waiting arms of a NoHo defender.

Back to the ground game.

At the end of the Third Quarter,

ECR was still holding on to

their slim 6-0 lead

This was largely due to a tremendous Goal Line stand by the ECR defense after "Da Bears" had fumbled the ball away deep in their own territory on a botched double reverse.

In the Fourth Quarter, the ECR defense was again put to the test after a NoHo QB sack fumble. This time the Huskies were successful on the Goal Line, punching it in on a Fourth and Goal situation.

NoHo's PAT kick was good giving the Huskies a 7-6 lead deep into the game's final stanza.

How would ECR respond?

By capping this long drive with a TD pass and a sparkling two-point PAT pass to retake the lead at 14-7.

The Defense was up to the task but in a strange way. They simply needed to fend off what would be the Huskies last, desperate drive.

Spectacular back-to-back tackles for loss created a Fourth and 29 situation deep in Huskies territory.

North Hollywood opted to punt.

El Camino Real opted to rough the punter.

Jesus, Mary AND Joseph!

Given new life near mid-field, the Huskies parlayed a 25 yard QB scramble to pose a real threat to the ECR lead.

The ECR defense came through yet again with a Fourth Down stop to seal the victory.

The Final Score was:

El Camino Real (1-2) 14

North Hollywood (1-2) 7

Next up for El Camino Real is, what else, another tough road game in Highland Park. This time the opponents are the 1-1-1 Franklin H.S. Panthers.

North Hollywood will travel to nearby Burbank to take on the 3-0 Burroughs H.S. Bears.

"Da Bears"

Thanks to Joanne an Paul for a fun night with friends and the opportunity to see their son Jason's squad earn a solid win.

The next day was indeed offering us a Friday Night Lights opportunity.

I would be joined by Michael and Jacob for our own Game of the 

Week choice.

We decided to watch our friend Ryan Bolland's Buena H.S. team's Channel League opener in Ventura.

Buena is the team that asked me to do analytics work on their game videos this season, so I also had a vested interest in seeing them play live for the first time.

On to yet another game . . . 

Dos Pueblos H.S. Chargers

2 Wins - 0 Losses

Buena H.S. Bulldogs

0 Wins - 2 Losses

The non-league records were polar opposites but throw them out, this was the first game of the 2023 Channel League season!

We, as always, passed by this

mural on the way to Buena's

Stadium that is appropriately found

on the wall of the school's pool

Chargers, in white, on Offense

While a Bulldog is being mugged

on the left, the Bulldogs are

SWARMING on defense

Second and Goal at the Six

It was another night of Goal Line stands. This time Dos Pueblos was able to score a TD on the last play of the First Quarter.

Jacob and Michael pondering

the mysteries of the Great Game

of American Football just before

the DP TD

After one period of play, Buena led 8-6.

The Chargers were about to punt

when, suddenly and without any

prior notice . . .

The DP Punter had a vision

He did gain some yardage but not enough for the first down.

The Bulldogs had GREAT field position.

Michael and Jacob talking to

a referee just before a kickoff

As it turns out the ref is one of Michael's old high school friends and Jacob's Middle School Principal.

At the half, Buena was in complete control having built up a 22-6 advantage.

Buena about to score yet again

By the end of the Third Quarter, the Bulldogs were DOMINATING the game, 32-12.

I just LOVE the Buena

run through tunnel

Buena's football program Mantra

This is the business end of about a six foot long oar that the Bulldogs proudly bring on to the field each game.

The only way that a team can make progress is if everyone can Row the Boat TOGETHER.

Especially when you start the season 0-2.

Why I cherish our Friday Nights

together in the Fall

The Final Score was:

Buena (1-2, 1-0 Channel League) - 39

Dos Pueblos (2-1, 0-1 Channel League) - 12

It was gratifying to see the great strides that this Buena team has made since their poor first game effort. The coaching staff and players are definitely in the proper Row the Boat mentality.

Next Friday, Buena hosts probably the Channel League's best team, the Pacifica H.S. Tritons (3-0, 1-0 Channel League).

Dos Pueblos will also be at home next week against the tough Ventura H.S. Cougars (2-1, 1-0 Channel League).

Meanwhile, across the pond . . .

The Third European League of

Football's third Championship

game is looming

Seeing our beloved Barcelona

Dragons ranked 15th hurts

I am not saying that the 2-9 Dragons are being disrespected, the truth just hurts.

The ELF's final regular season

slate of games

The last game on this list, the 11-0 Rhein Fire at the 10-1 Frankfurt Galaxy, could be an instant classic.

The three Conference Champions

are guaranteed playoff spots

As for the other three playoff spots, four teams still have at least a mathematical chance of playing in the post season.

Tie breakers include won-loss records, head-to-head competition and season long point differentials.

A fairly simple route for the

7-4 Tirol Raiders

A bit more complex for the

also 7-4 Wroclaw Panthers

The once again 7-4 Berlin Thunder's

path to the playoffs is also complex

Now as for the fourth team still in the hunt . . .

The 6-5 Munich Ravens playoff

path looks simple enough

It starts with having to literally beat the 2-9 Barcelona Dragons by at least 150 points on Sunday.

Then all three of the three 7-4 teams have to lose this weekend.

It's a mathematical chance, but it is a chance nonetheless.

What just happened?

Three of the Varese Skorpions' best Flag Football coaches have jumped to the rival Legnano Frogs.

Trouble in paradise?

Thursday through Labor day Monday

YAHOO!

The Washington Huskies will host the

always dangerous Boise State Broncos

on Saturday

The changing landscape of college athletics hammered the old PAC-12 again this week.

From the Atlantic Coast Conference

The ACC announced that in 2024, they will be adding the state of Texas' Southern Methodist University Mustangs from the American Athletic Conference.

Also joining the ACC in 2024 will be two schools from the soon to be defunct PAC-12 Conference, the University of California Bears and the Stanford University Cardinal.

With ten of the PAC-12 teams now slotted for 2024 inclusion in the Big-10, Big-12 and Atlantic Coast Conferences, only Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars remain without a 2024 conference.

Unless . . .

. . . they hang together to

become the 2-PAC

The poster boy for the state

of college football today

Daniels is in his sixth season of college football at his fourth university.

Also, remember that Daniels skipped his Senior year of football at powerhouse Mater Dei H.S. to enter the U.S.C. Trojans' program where he started immediately during what should have been last season of high school ball.

More news from the net . . .

By comparison, the new state-of-the-art

Del Sol High School that just opened

in nearby Oxnard cost $178 million

That is the cost of building an entire high school that just opened with a Freshmen class only of 1,000 students.

So true

A boy can dream, can't he?