The championship trophy is taller than any of the players on the Otay Ranch Broncos Blue 12U youth football team and just maybe that’s appropriate as players reached for the sky to capture this year’s San Diego Youth Football & Cheer Junior Midget championship last Saturday at San Diego High School.
The Broncos emerged victorious by a score of 40-12 over El Cajon.
The team celebrated by attending the next day’s Chargers-Tennessee Titans NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium with towering championship trophy in tow.
Broncos head coach Toloai Letuli said the secret to the team’s success was “keeping the faith.”
“They played as a family,” the Otay Ranch coach said. “We had some adversity, but the boys picked it up and played harder.”
Otay Ranch, which improved to 11-0 on the season, advances to Saturday’s state championship game against Moreno Valley at San Diego High School. Kick-off is 5:30 p.m.
The Broncos are ranked third in the state and fifth in the nation in their age group. A win in Saturday’s state championship game will send the Otay Ranch team to the national championship tournament in Florida.
This group of players has a great deal of experience — and success. This is the fifth year in a row that this collection of players has advanced to the Super Q-Bowl, starting with the 8U Mitey Mite division in 2012 and continuing with the 9U division in 2013, 10U Junior Pee Wee division in 2014 and 11U Pee Wee division in 2015.
This is the first division championship for the Otay Ranch program since the 14U division title under coach Ervin Cobbs in 2010.
Five players scored touchdowns in last Saturday’s Junior Midget championship game: running back Tano Letuli, fullback Harmon Savaiinaea, halfback Mason Richard, fullback Johnny Odedina and wide receiver Dennis Burdette.
A total of six South County teams, including three from Otay Ranch, competed in last weekend’s Super Q-Bowl championship finals. The Eastlake Panthers’ 9U and 11U teams also emerged victorious.
Eastlake defeated Grossmont/La Mesa, 24-8, to win the 9U title while the Panthers Black team blanked Los Toros, 22-0, to capture the 11U championship. Both Eastlake teams sport 11-0 records.
Meanwhile, the Bonita Buccaneers defeated Otay Ranch, 38-16, to emerge victorious in the 10U division to give South County four division champions in the six division championship games.
The Eastlake 9U team proved to be a powerhouse on defense this season. The Panthers allowed only one touchdown in the regular season and one touchdown in the playoffs.
Key players on the team, according to coach Scott Anderson, include Michael Bannon, Joseph Castillo, Isiah Cook, Scott Anderson, Ethan Roberts, Ethan Dumaran, Carloyoab LaFlair and Aaron Corona.
Coach Anderson said the team is looking to come back and defend its title next season.
The Panthers 11U team appears even more stingy when it comes to giving up touchdowns.
The team’s defense, led by coach Larry Edwards, has only been scored on once in three years during regular season play. This is the team’s third consecutive championship.
Eastlake will play the Wilmington Pilots this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Balboa Stadium for the California state championship. The winner advances to Arizona for the AYF regional championship game.
Key players on the 11U team, according to coach Clark Moses, include Trey Edwards, Dominic Nankil, Ezriel Noa, Isaiah Lane, Adren Parker, Chris Snyder, Luke Schwenke and Jaydin Jackson.
San Diego Super Q-Bowl Championships
Saturday, Nov. 5 at San Diego High School
8U Division
Balboa 34, Los toros 8
9U Division
Eastlake 24, Grossmont 8
10U DIvision
Bonita 38, Otay Ranch 16
11U Division
Eastlake 22, Los Toros 0
12U Division
Otay 40, El Cajon 14
14U Division
Westview 44, Otay Ranch 14
