Simi Valley vs Camarillo Silver
Pee Wee Division
10/14/2006


The match up made for an incredible game for both teams. I applaud our opponent’s players and coaching staff for their sportsmanship, aggressiveness and discipline in how they played last Saturday.

Coming into this game, the Simi Valley Pee Wee Patriots were 4-0 and we knew we were going to be in for a battle, come game time. Just how much of a battle depended on various factors such as what we knew and didn’t know about our opponent, how well we practiced during the week, how well we warmed up before the game and so on and so on.

Well I believe we came in as prepared as we could have, and as always there were still small issues/items that could have used some more work, but I wasn’t about to sweat those things. Unlike any other game we’ve played this season, I had this continual nagging sense of unusually heightened uncertainty of not truly knowing our opponent and that I would simply have to wait until we were in the middle of the battle to discover things that I’m normally informed of or prepared for. Needles to say, I got very little sleep the night before the game - approximately 4 hours.

From week to week, our Pee Wee team continues to improve in their understanding of the game and how to adjust and improvise in different offensive and defensive schemes - because of this, we’re able to teach them many advanced concepts of the game. These young players are truly impressive and have the heart for the game.

Game day started out great! I woke up humming college fight songs and making good time as I left the house. I believe most of our parents and players arrived before the home team volunteers even finished preparing the field!! …There’s that “edge” I emailed everyone about. We had a good time of warm-ups, pep talk and one-on-one conversations concerning special game plans. We were ready!

The conditions began cold yet warmed up; however, the field was a mud bowl, as with any coach, this became my first concern and our first problem. The game started – the battle had begun, and what a battle it was. Cam Silver struck first. Striking first wasn’t a concern to us, it was how tough and determined they went about it. We, of course, struck back and tied things up; however, much like a good boxing match-up, they struck again. It was at this point that I knew we were in for a slugfest.

At halftime the score was Cam Silver 20, Patriots 12. Despite the score, our kids seemed amazingly unfazed (that’s the heart I mentioned earlier). Much like that fighter in the ring that sits in his corner when he’s losing by points, they listened intently to our instruction and adjustments with an eagerness in their eyes to just get back on the field and start swinging.

Well the second half was a whole new game. Our defense tightened up and no longer allowed Cam Silver to score and our potent offense was able to possess the ball more, thus do what they do, that being score. In a nutshell, our defense would get on the field and shut down Cam Silver’s drives - our offense would get on the field drive the ball down field and score! By the middle of the fourth quarter, I believe, we were up 36 to 20. Hopes for a Cam Silver come-back ended when our left linebacker intercepted a pass, actually, based on the time on the clock, Cam Silver’s hopes ended earlier than this, nevertheless our defense again arranged for the offense to get back on the field and take a knee to run out the clock!

What a game, what a battle, what amazing heart displayed by our Pee Wee's! These young boys were able to battle back while down 8 points at halftime to preserve and improve their undefeated record to 5-0, thus placing them first place in the Pee Wee Central Division. As I told the boys after the game, my hat goes off to each and everyone one of them! Congratulations!

…By the way, for the record, Coach Robbie was only joking about the coaching staff agreeing to shave their heads, should we end our regular season undefeated. Personally, I want to preserve what little hair I have left, thank you very much!

-Coach Steve Aguilar