Youth Scene: Newport-Mesa Pee-Wee Seahawks advance to Super Bowl

“Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them — a desire, a dream, a vision.”

— Muhammad Ali

The Newport-Mesa Junior All-American Pee-Wee Seahawks (ages 10-12) scored a 16-7 win over the South Bay Packers Saturday night at San Juan Hills High to advance to the Orange County Junior All-American Super Bowl.

The Seahawks (10-0), the OCJAAF NFL Atlantic League champions, play against the Carson Colts Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles.

It’s been an outstanding year for the Seahawks. They have outscored opponents, 295-76. The team is winning the turnover battle by plus-12. The Seahawks have averaged 245.8 yards of offense per game while holding others to 110.2 yards.

This is dominance. However, it is not over.

I am sure the quote from Muhammad Ali rings true. These Seahawk champions play with something deep inside them. It must be a desire, a dream, a vision.

The players, staff and fans have one more week before turning anticipation to reality. The boys play with a purpose, are driven, have faced adversity and persevered, and have the heart of champions.

The Seahawks continued their perfect season with a dominating victory over the South Bay Packers. The final score 16-7 appears much closer than the on-field performance as the Seahawks were in complete control of the game throughout.

The Newport offense gained 184 total yards, while holding South Bay to 130 yards. The defense forced four Packer turnovers. Special teams played an important role with long punts winning the battle of field position and the recovery of a muffed Packer kick-off.

The Seahawks scored on their first possession. The nine-play, 52-yard drive was highlighted by a General Booty-to-Mason Gecowets 28-yard pass completion. Three plays later Davyon Lesure split the defense for 17 yards and a touchdown. The extra two-point conversion was kicked by Jake Caldwell. Caldwell has had a sensational playoff run with booming extra points keeping his current streak alive at seven consecutive kicked conversions. With 2:04 to play in the first quarter the Seahawks led the Packers, 8-0.

Midway through the second quarter, South Bay scored its only points. The play came from 38 yards out on a sweep left into the end zone. The Packers did convert the running extra point and the Seahawks stil led, 8-7.

While challenged by South Bay, Newport-Mesa came right back to assert its dominance on its next possession. With their first play from scrimmage Booty dropped back and connected with Gecowets for a 55-yard completion taking the ball to the Packers’ 15-yard line. The next play Lesure swept left gaining 10 more yards opened by a huge crushing block from Anthony Davidson. With 2:39 before halftime another Booty to Gecowets 11-yard pass resulted in a touchdown. Again, Caldwell was perfect to make it Seahawks 16, Packers 7.

The subsequent kick-off was muffed by South Bay and recovered by Newport’s Caldwell. The ensuing drive ended with Robert Rahimi punting for 51 yards leaving South Bay 40 seconds on the clock and 80 yards to go. The half ended with the same score Seahawks 16, Packers 7.

With the beginning of the third quarter the Packers needed to find an offensive strategy to consistently move the ball. The Seahawks were intent on maintaining their dominance and controlling time of possession and the ball. The tone was set on South Bay’s first play from scrimmage when the Seahawks’ Michael Vaughn-Gallegos split the offensive line for a backfield tackle and a Packer loss of five yards.

The outcome became more clear as Caldwell continued his great play with two fumble recoveries in the quarter. The Packers were stopped time after time as the Newport defense led by great team play from Tyler Narayan, T.J. Blue, Brendan Duffy, Ethan Garbers, Jaden Genova, Charlie Levis and Cole Rener held the Packers to just 19 total yards of offense in the quarter with no passing yards from scrimmage.

At the end of three quarters, the score remained Seahawks 16, Packers 7.

The last period witnessed the smart play and heart of a champion moving to close out the game. After a Davidson interception, the Seahawks went on a nine-play drive focused on the running of Adam Molloy and Rahimi to basically seal the game.

The Packers got the ball back with 67 seconds left and with desperation in their hearts. Appropriately, the game was over on a tackle in the backfield by Genova. It was time to celebrate the 10th consecutive victory.

As Mohmmad Ali said, it is also time for the Seahawk champions to maintain sight on the prize and one more game. It is time to reach for that something deep inside — a desire, a dream, a vision and a Super Bowl victory.

— Daniel Davidson