Saturday, August 30, 2025
It was a BEAUTIFUL day for American football, perfect for the first game of Jacob's last Pop Warner football season for the Camarillo Stingers Blue Senior squad.
See what I mean?
His Stingers compete in the
Gold Coast Youth Football League
Senior Black National Conference
North Valley Golden Bears (0-0)
at
Camarillo Stings Blue (0-0)
These two teams met last year in the Junior American Conference Quarterfinal playoffs where the Golden Bears won easily, 20-6, but then had to forfeit that result due not playing several players the mandatory 12 plays.
While many of us were concerned about possible hard feelings and retribution being part of today's game issues, our worries were completely unfounded as both clubs came to Camarillo H.S. to do just one thing, play a competitive, clean game.
Jacob, old #99, in the pre-game
warm-up passing line
He caught this five yard stop route
CAPTAINS OUT!
Team prayer
Jacob setting his sights for a
block on the opening Kickoff
The Stingers ran the ball well
until they got near pay dirt
The Pit about to get hectic
A Stingers Wide Receiver in the
open for a big gainer
Camarillo's Offensive Line did a
splendid job pass blocking all day
Jacob got the starting nod
at Defensive End on the left
This might be holding,
but it was not called
Another Stingers' pass completion
Golden Bears attack trying to
get to the edge
The Stingers QB can both pass . . .
. . . and run
Camarillo moved the ball with some success and their Defense was tenacious.
End of the First Quarter
North Valley - 0
Camarillo - 0
two yard line but . . .
to get back to work
Jacob in on a tackle
The Golden Bears, adverse to Punting most of the game, turned the ball over on downs near mid-field.
I am proud to report that all of Jacob's crucial Punt long snaps were excellent today.
He made a splendid open field solo tackle inside the ten yard line on this Punt.
on this warm, sunny evening
The Golden Bears Pass Protection
was solid as well all game
deep into Golden Bears territory
but could not score
North Valley recovered their own fumble but they were now deep in their end of the gridiron.
to a wide open receiver was a tad long
on the last play of the Half
The first 24 minutes of the game brought the fans lots of action but no points.
Halftime Score
North Valley - 0
Camarillo - 0
entertaining the crowd during
the intermission break
playing advice that I could give him
"Play Faster!"
The Golden Bears trying the
other flank this time
open field tackle
to shine in the Third Quarter . . .
BOMBS AWAY!
end of the field
Alas, a Red Zone fumble ended this potential scoring drive.
get to the QB
OLB and dropping into coverage
again as the Third Quarter ended
End of the Third Quarter
North Valley - 0
Camarillo - 0
Only 12 minutes to go in
the game and . . .
. . . the Stingers were matriculating
the ball down the field
Catch and . . .
. . . RUN . . .
. . . all the way to . . .
. . . a First and Goal at the nine yard line!
This run made it Second and Goal
at the two yard line
Then we decided to pass the ball . . .
Disaster
The North Valley Defense forced our QB to fumble while attempting a pass but we recovered it on the ten yard line, setting up a Third and Goal situation.
Incomplete passes on Third and Fourth downs stymied our best scoring opportunity of the game.
Our drive ended, on the ensuing
North Valley play they exploded for a
long run, by far their best play on the game
There goes the Golden Bears RB!
Tracking him down to
stop a possible TD
The going just got really tough
Some would call this holding but
there was no call tonight
The Golden Bears scored on
this QB Sneak
The Stingers stopped North Valley's two-point attempt as the Golden Bears but they were still up six points midway through the Fourth Quarter.
Back to work on Offense
A key completion . . .
. . . was eventually followed by a
turnover on downs
The Stingers Defense continued
the fight to the end
The clock kept ticking as the
Golden Bears ran the football
Keep pursuing and . . .
. . . tackling, Stingers!
One-on-One
Pass Blocking vs. Pass Rush
The Stingers' Defense would
not stop running to the ball
pursue, Pursue, PURSUE!
Setting the Edge on Defense
Back to the Pass Rush Wars
One last hurrah for Camarillo . . .
. . . ended with an interception
The Golden Bears wisely kept
the ball on the ground . . .
. . . and the valiant Stingers
simply ran out of time
Final Score
North Valley (1-0) - 6
Camarillo (0-1) - 0
The Camarillo post-game talks
The Stingers lost but I thought that they played a solid first game of the season. Now it is time to regroup and learn the lessons from this close, tough setback.
Now for the rest of the GCYFL's action today . . .
Gold Coast Youth Football League
Senior Black National Conference
Week #1 Results
Saturday, August 30, 2025
North Valley Golden Bears (1-0) - 6
Camarillo Stingers Blue (0-1) - 0
Newbury Park Steelers Black (1-0) - 44
Santa Clarita Wildcats Gold (0-1) - 16
Calabasas Rams Black (1-0) - 32
El Rio Spartans (0-1) - 0
Santa Clarita Wildcats Navy (1-0) - 38
Oxnard Panthers (0-1) - 30
Simi Valley Bulldogs Black (1-0) - 40
Saugus Spartans Navy (0-1) - 6
Senior Black National Conference
Standings
1. Tie Calabasas Rams Black 1-0
Newbury Park Steelers Black 1-0
North Valley Bears 1-0
Simi Valley Bulldogs Black 1-0
Santa Clarita Wildcats Navy 1-0
6. Tie Camarillo Stingers Blue 0-1
El Rio Spartans 0-1
Oxnard Panthers 0-1
Santa Clarita Wildcats Gold 0-1
Saugus Spartans Navy 0-1
Week #2 Schedule
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Santa Clarita Wildcats Gold (0-1) at
Camarillo Stingers (0-1)
Saugus Spartans Navy (0-1) at
Newbury Park Steelers Black (1-0)
North Valley Golden Bears (1-0) at
El Rio Spartans (0-1)
Simi Valley Bulldogs Black (1-0) at
Oxnard Panthers (0-1)
Santa Clarita Wildcats Navy (1-0) at
Calabasas Rams Black (1-0)
ONWARD AND UPWARD,
STINGERS!
