Tracy Press

Defense wins championships, but a sputtering offense kept the Raiders from getting over the hump against the Trojans.

Jairri Earing of the Tracy Raiders chases down Northwest Trojans ballcarrier Brandon Vasquez during Saturday’s Super Bowl game at Lincoln High School in Stockton. Enrique Gutierrez/Tracy Press

STOCKTON — The Tracy Raiders got everything it could have asked for from its defense Saturday in the Delta Youth Football League junior varsity Super Bowl at Lincoln High’s A.G. Spanos Stadium.

Playing against the two-time defending champion Stockton Trojans’ creative offensive playbook, the Raider D came up with fourth-down stops, didn’t give up the big play and even got in on the scoring, when Tyler Cox stepped in front of a screen pass and returned it 80 yards the other way for a touchdown.

But the defense couldn’t do it all. The Raiders recorded only one first down on offense and amassed less than 50 total yards in a 12-6 struggle.

Tracy finished the year at 10-3. The Trojans won their third straight title at a perfect 13-0.

"We played them tougher than anyone else had played them — but they’re tough, too," Tracy coach Freddy James II said. "Our defense kept us in the game, just like they did all year long. We just couldn’t get it done on offense."

The Trojans led only 6-0 at the half, despite moving the ball well. Northwest Stockton scored on a fourth-and-goal situation in the first quarter before Cox ended a drive and tied the game with his pick.

Nikko Martinez gave the Raiders a great chance when he blocked a punt and Evan Owens recovered to give Tracy a first-and-10 at the Trojan 28-yard line late in the third. But the offense sputtered, and the Trojans marched down the field for a 1-yard scoring run with 6:35 left in the game.

Jairri Earing blocked the point-after kick to keep it close and keep Tracy’s momentum up, and Justin King hauled in a 15-yard pass from Cody Daniel for the Raiders’ first first-down on the ensuing drive.

That drive ended with a Daniel interception, but even then, the Raider D wouldn’t let the game go away. Isaiah Ellis forced a fumble and Anthony Taluagon recovered for one last Raider chance — but it was inside their own 5-yard line with less than a minute and a half to go. Daniel was intercepted again on a desperation pass as the Trojans began the celebration.

Talaugon led the way with 11 tackles, and Stanley Burrell Jr. added eight. Cox made eight stops, and Emiliano Aguirre made seven stops. Devon Denholm and Justin King both had six.

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written by jairri , December 08, 2007

thats me!!