Dolphins fall, but still make playoffs

The Huntington Beach Jr. Pee Wee Dolphins came into last Saturday’s

regular season finale with the Westminster Lions looking to avenge last

year’s 13-7 defeat.

The payback never materialized, although the Dolphins did play the host

Lions toe-to-toe in a 7-0 Westminster victory.

“This was a game that was played with intensity and a great deal of

effort, and my hat goes off to Westminster,” Huntington Beach Coach Dave

Small said. “Both teams were confident in their game preparation and both

Danny (Westminster Coach Danny Mancha) and I knew it would be a real

battle.”

The defensive struggle was evident from the outset of the game, with

neither team scoring in the opening quarter. Willie Fiscus III breathed

life into the Dolphins with a second quarter fumble recovery, but

Huntington Beach couldn’t capitalize on the turnover.

But Westminster did score the game’s only touchdown on a turnover as the

Lions intercepted a Logan Martina pass and returned it 60 yards for the

score.

Huntington Beach had one second half drive stalled by another

interception, but got one final chance when Fiscus got his second fumble

recovery of the game and sixth of the season with 1:18 remaining on the

game clock.

The Dolphins, out of timeouts, went to their hurry-up offense and began

to move the ball downfield, but the drive stalled when the Lions pounced

on a fumble with eight seconds left.

“Coach Mancha and I have a great relationship and it was exciting to have

the season come down to a game between both these teams,” Small said.

“The loss hurts, but I’m happy for the Lions because I know how hard they

worked this year.”

Another defensive highlight for Huntington Beach came on a second half

interception by Brian Shrock, which was his seventh of the season.

Despite the setback, the Dolphins, who finished in third-place in the AFL

Pacific Division, tied for a wild-card playoff spot with the Orange

Chiefs-West of the AFL Atlantic Division. The Dolphins and Chiefs will

play later this week, with the winner advancing to face the Fountain

Valley Black Jaguars in Saturday’s first round.