Dolphins fall, but still make playoffs
The Huntington Beach Jr. Pee Wee Dolphins came into last Saturday’s
regular season finale with the Westminster Lions looking to avenge last
year’s 13-7 defeat.
The payback never materialized, although the Dolphins did play the host
Lions toe-to-toe in a 7-0 Westminster victory.
“This was a game that was played with intensity and a great deal of
effort, and my hat goes off to Westminster,” Huntington Beach Coach Dave
Small said. “Both teams were confident in their game preparation and both
Danny (Westminster Coach Danny Mancha) and I knew it would be a real
battle.”
The defensive struggle was evident from the outset of the game, with
neither team scoring in the opening quarter. Willie Fiscus III breathed
life into the Dolphins with a second quarter fumble recovery, but
Huntington Beach couldn’t capitalize on the turnover.
But Westminster did score the game’s only touchdown on a turnover as the
Lions intercepted a Logan Martina pass and returned it 60 yards for the
score.
Huntington Beach had one second half drive stalled by another
interception, but got one final chance when Fiscus got his second fumble
recovery of the game and sixth of the season with 1:18 remaining on the
game clock.
The Dolphins, out of timeouts, went to their hurry-up offense and began
to move the ball downfield, but the drive stalled when the Lions pounced
on a fumble with eight seconds left.
“Coach Mancha and I have a great relationship and it was exciting to have
the season come down to a game between both these teams,” Small said.
“The loss hurts, but I’m happy for the Lions because I know how hard they
worked this year.”
Another defensive highlight for Huntington Beach came on a second half
interception by Brian Shrock, which was his seventh of the season.
Despite the setback, the Dolphins, who finished in third-place in the AFL
Pacific Division, tied for a wild-card playoff spot with the Orange
Chiefs-West of the AFL Atlantic Division. The Dolphins and Chiefs will
play later this week, with the winner advancing to face the Fountain
Valley Black Jaguars in Saturday’s first round.
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