Cougars claim second straight Super Bowl title
By Kevin Newton Special to the Acorn

Photo courtesy of Scott Martin 'NO. 1'- The Camarillo Cougars J-2 Gold celebrates its 34-14 victory over Simi Valley during last weekend's Gold Coast Youth Football League Super Bowl. The team has won 25 consecutive games.

Last Saturday, Camarillo's Cougar J-2 Gold youth football team closed the book on consecutive undefeated seasons.

The Cougars defeated Simi Valley, 34-14, in the Gold Coast Youth Football League's Super Bowl at Granada Hills High.

Cougar league board member Paul Sper presided over the award ceremony held at midfield following the game, and presented the highly coveted Super Bowl championship trophy to head coach Scott Cline.

The J-2 Gold Cougars have racked up some of the most impressive statistics ever for a Camarillo youth football team, including consecutive undefeated seasons and back-to-back Super Bowl victories.

In two years, this amazing group of seventh and eighthgrade boys has won 25 football games in a row. Following the latest victory, Cline told his team, "You've done something very special, and you will have the memory of this moment forever."

Led by quarterback Jared Cline, one of the most impressive youth quarterback in Cougar football league history, the Cougars defeated their opponents with a highly sophisticated and multilayered defensive structure.

The team's offensive attack was built around a one-two punch of explosive rushing combined with a pinpoint passing game.

Cline's passing attack this season resulted in 102 completions for 1,720 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Ranked No. 1 in the league this year, the Cougars relied heavily on tailback Conrad Kotake.

Kotake had 154 carries for 1,705 yards and 35 touchdowns. In the Super Bowl victory, Kotake carried the ball 24 times for 259 yards and five touchdowns.

Fullback Myles Harvey, the lead blocker for Kotake, had 20 catches this season for 247 yards and another 275 yards rushing.

When the time came to unleash the Cougars' potent passing game, the go-to man was receiver Hunter Virant.

Virant hauled in 36 catches for 612 yards and nine touchdowns. Virant's teammates, wideouts Tyler Brown and Jason Ghilarducci, and tight ends Wyatt Sanders and Dez Vasquez, combined their many talents to provide Cline with multiple passing options.

The linebacking corps was a force to be reckoned with, too.

Piloted by Erick Nagaoka, who led the team in tackles every game, along with Christian Bender, Joe Alamillo and Colton Sper, the group effectively shut down opposing running games while defensive ends Richard Martin and J.T. McGinley provided pressure on quarterbacks.

Cornerbacks/free safeties Payton Palmer-Newton and Tucker Sanders provided intense run and pass coverage that essentially shut down the defensive secondary.

A football team is ultimately only as good as its linemen, and here again is where the Cougars excelled.

Blake Howell, Jack Mcguire, Eric Dean, Jordan Ramos and Jason Ah Sue forced critical turnovers every game and turned back the attacks of some of the most fearsome running games in the league.

The Cougars will be honored at their annual awards banquet, to be held Sat., Dec. 15.