Pee Wee Jaguars eliminate Cowboys, 19-14

A full moon was out on a clear, crisp night Saturday and so, too, was

the defending Pee Wee Division Superbowl champion.

The Fountain Valley Jaguars saw to it that the Mission Viejo Cowboys

will not repeat as champions this year, as they defeated the Cowboys,

19-14, in a second-round playoff game.

The triumph will send Fountain Valley into Saturday’s third round of

action, where the Pee Wee Jaguars will host the South Orange County

Patriots at 9 a.m. at Fountain Valley High.

Mission Viejo took an early 6-0 lead, but Fountain Valley responded to

the Cowboys’ scoring drive with a march to the end zone of their own,

using what Coach Mike Perez termed, “smash mouth football.”

During the drive, the Jaguars pounded the ball off tackle, as

quarterback Joshua Perez and running backs Isaiah Romero and Bryan

Schutte moved downfield behind the solid blocking of linemen Brandon

Cooke, Brennan Boano, Brian Verschueran, Justin Gunn, Coby Mason, Kevin

Loyola, Andrew Schneider and Bryan Economy. Schutte ended the drive with

a five-yard touchdown run and brought the Jaguars into a tie.

In the second quarter, quarterback Shane Webber hit wide receiver

Viken Bitar for a 46-yard gain to the Mission Viejo seven-yard line, and

Schutte again took care of the scoring honors.

Schutte gave the Jaguars a 19-6 halftime lead with his third touchdown

of the half, a 43-yard scamper.

Mission Viejo drew to within 19-14 with a fourth-quarter touchdown,

and the Cowboys had a chance to pull out the win by recovering an onside

kick. But Fountain Valley’s defense, led by Eric Faamausili, Cody

Steiner, Justin Dawson and Michael Berber, denied the Cowboys a sustained

drive.

CLINIC DIVISION

Fountain Valley 38, Orange 0

Ten weeks ago, Fountain Valley edged the Chiefs by a 21-20 score.

There was no such suspense in the rematch, as quarterback Bryce Blake

rushed for more than 140 yards and three touchdowns, Matt Empting scored

a pair of touchdowns and rushed for 100 yards, and the Jaguar defense

turned in an overpowering performance.

Blake stunned the Chiefs by scoring on a 30-yard run on the final play

of the first half to give the Jaguars a 20-0 lead at the break.

Fountain Valley set the tone early when Stephan Robb scored on a short

run to complete a 60-yard drive on the game’s first possession.

Linemen Andy Palacios, Paul Fernandez, Alexander Ackel, Joshua

Schnitker and Moses Hershberger helped the Jaguars total 350 yards of

total offense.

A Jaguar defense -- spearheaded by linebackers Steven Santana, Diego

Boggio, Nicco Boggio and Trent Burns -- limited the Chiefs to 20 yards in

offense.

Fountain Valley will continue its playoff march Saturday, taking on

Mission Viejo White in a battle of the unbeatens at Cerritos High (11

a.m.).