Vikings third at Cottonwood Flag Football Tournament

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

Vallecitos Elementary School placed third in the Jan. 20 Cottonwood Flag Football Tournament.

The Vikings won two games and lost two in the tournament which was hosted by Cottonwood Elementary School of Aguana but played at Hamilton High School in Anza since Cottonwood doesn’t have its own field.

“I’m happy,” said Vallecitos coach Ray Hanbeck. “We were competitive and we placed, which is something we’ve never done before. The boys have never placed in flag football before.”

Although Vallecitos placed third in the boys competition, the Vikings had a co-ed team. “We didn’t have enough girls,” Hanbeck said.

During the games, seven players for each team are on the field. Vallecitos had 12 boys and five girls.

Seven small K-8 elementary schools and middle schools in northern San Diego County and southern Riverside County participate in athletic tournaments with a different school hosting a different sport each month. Borrego Springs Middle School and Warner Middle School did not participate in the Cottonwood Flag Football Tournament, so each of the five teams had a game against each other.

The flag football games had a running clock for the 20-minute contests. The field length was 40 yards, and a team could obtain a first down by gaining 20 yards on three plays. A touchdown was worth six points, and teams had the option of a one-point conversion attempt from the five-yard-line which would be passing only or a two-point attempt from the 12-yard-line which could be either a run or a pass. An interception was worth two points as well as the change of possession.

Julian Middle School won the tournament; the Timberwolves won all four of their games including a 20-0 victory over Vallecitos which began play for the Vikings.

“It wasn’t something that was unexpected,” Hanbeck said of the loss to Julian. “They were stronger than us as far as speed and size.”

Vallecitos next faced Pauma Elementary School and defeated the Bobcats by a 14-0 score. The Vikings opened scoring with a rushing play which involved Daisy Robles pitching the ball back to Berenice Yanez, who scored on the 10-yard reverse play. Natalia Loera intercepted a Pauma pass for two more points. Scoring concluded when David Loera caught a touchdown pass from Geovani Yanez.

“We were playing much better,” Hanbeck said.

“We executed very well,” Hanbeck said. “We relied strongly on our reverses, and they were performing those plays very well.”

Hamilton, whose nickname is also the Bobcats, then defeated Vallecitos in an 8-0 game. Hamilton had an interception and then a touchdown.

“We were competitive,” Hanbeck said. “They just got a few more plays off that worked for them.”

Scoring in the 10-0 victory over Cottonwood began when David Loera intercepted a pass. Loera subsequently took a reverse from Robles and made a touchdown run. Loera then ran for the two-point conversion.

Hamilton had defeated Cottonwood, so Vallecitos, Hamilton, and Cottonwood all had 2-2 records. The tie breaking criteria for a three-way tie with no head-to-head advantage was the fewest points allowed. Cottonwood was given second, Vallecitos was awarded third place, and Hamilton received fourth place.

“Overall I’m very happy with how we did,” Hanbeck said. “The kids were very happy about it. They were upbeat.”

Borrego Springs Middle School does not have its own gymnasium but is next to Borrego Springs High School, so the Feb. 17 Borrego Springs Basketball Tournament will take place in the high school gymnasium.