By Steve Knez
BurbankNBeyond Staff Writer
The Vikings went 7-2 in the final week of the regular season, including four shutouts by Senior Green, Junior Black, Junior Green and Midget Green.
Senior Gold 12 Santa Clarita 8
Senior Gold earned themselves a trip to the playoffs with a hard fought 12-8 victory over the Santa Clarita Blackhawks in the final game of the regular season at Valencia High School. Dyllan Esquivel made another game saving interception late in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory and the #7 seeded Vikings (5-3) will now face the #3 seeded Santa Clarita Warriors (5-3) on Saturday at Valencia High School at 3:15 p.m.
Gabe Pellot was five of nine for 113 yards passing and scored the Vikings’ first touchdown of the game with a 2-yard quarterback keeper. However, the Vikings relied heavily on their running game as the trio of Chris Seidler, Tommy Sanchez and John Solares combined for 176 yards on 29 carries. Solares had the longest run of the day with a 38-yarder that included several broken tackles and Sanchez rushed for the second touchdown of the game. Sanchez finished the regular season with 724 total rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Midget Green 50 Santa Clarita 0
Midget Green (8-0) completed an undefeated regular season with a dominating performance over the Santa Clarita Apaches at Burbank High School. (see feature story)
Midget Black 36 Oxnard 6
Midget Black finished the season on a strong note with an impressive 36-6 victory over Oxnard at Burbank High School. The Vikings (2-6), featuring a roster predominantly of first-year players, did not qualify for the postseason but they battled hard all year and improved with each game.
Quarterback Matthew Moreno led the offense with over 100 yards passing, 30 yards rushing and 30 yards receiving. He rushed for a touchdown and caught one as well. Christopher Rozo also contributed with 25 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving. He passed for a 15-yard touchdown.
Zion Chavez led the defense by penetrating the line on virtually every play and was credited with more than 10 tackles. He also recovered a fumble and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. Rozo, playing on both sides of the ball, added a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown. Sam Tipton and Cade Miller also had interceptions on defense.
First year running back Teddy Silverman added a 15-yard rushing touchdown.
Bantam Green 40 Santa Clarita 20
Bantam Green clinched the Central Conference championship in the Southern Division with an impressive aerial assault en route to a controlled 40-20 victory over the Santa Clarita Apaches at Burbank High School. The #3 Vikings (7-2, 3-0 in conference) will face the Santa Clarita Seminoles (7-2) in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday at Burbank High School at 2:45 p.m.
In preparation for the playoffs, the Vikings passed on every offensive play and found tremendous success with five touchdown passes by quarterback Bryce Whitaker. In the first quarter alone, Whitaker hit Niko Candido with a 60-yarder and found Tyrese Yussuf twice with 59-yard and 37-yard TD passes.
Yussuf added a 47-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter and the Vikings took a 27-6 lead into halftime. On the first possession of the second half, Whitaker connected with Candido once again for 62-yard touchdown. This time, the determined Candido stiff-armed three tacklers on his way to the end zone.
The final touchdown pass of the game was actually tipped by an Apache defender but Xavier Davis was able to maintain concentration and haul it in for a 66-yard score. Davis outran numerous defenders for the touchdown.
Other Scores:
(7-1) Senior Green 73 West Valley 0
(3-5) Junior Black 22 West Valley 0
(4-4) Junior Green 30 Santa Clarita Indians 0
Santa Clarita Redskins 44 Bantam Black 12 (4-5)
Camarillo Black 19 Bantam White 8 (1-8)
(3-5) Pee Wee – BYE
