Vikings football teams bring home two Super Bowl titles
Simi sends four squads to Gold Coast Youth Football League championship games
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Photo courtesy of Tom Costello FOR DAD, AND COUNTRY- The Simi Valley Vikings Bantam Silver team takes the field last weekend at Granada Hills High for its Super Bowl game against Westlake Blue. Carrying the flag, which had previously been raised during battle in Iraq, is Christopher Lutton, the son of Chris Lutton, a paramedic in the United States Marine Corps.

Simi Valley can be proud of its Vikings football teams.

The Simi Valley Vikings had finalists in four of five Gold Coast Youth Football League Super Bowls last Saturday at Granada Hills High School, and two Vikings squads won championships.

The Vikings Bantam Silver squad completed an emotional 12-0 season by defeating Westlake Blue 8-0 in the finale.

The Bantam Silver team of players 9 and 10 years old entered the field by carrying an American flag that was raised during a battle in Iraq. The flag was a gift from Petty Officer 2nd Class Navy Corpsman Chris Lutton, a paramedic providing support to the United States Marine Corps. His 10-year-old son, Christopher, led teammates onto the field by proudly lifting the Stars and Stripes.

"It was a great year, and we had a lot of fun," said head coach Tom Costello, who said Lutton planned to be an assistant coach before answering the call of duty.

"We started with 22 kids; we finished with 22 kids, and they played great all year long and bonded as a unit. Our mantra this year was '22 as 1.'"

At the Super Bowl victory party at a nearby pizza parlor, Bantam Silver received a special phone call from Lutton, who received photographs and DVDs of the game each week during the season.

In addition to Christopher Lutton, Adrian Acosta, Mathias Ahumada, Tyler Barnett, Tommy Costello, Michael Douglass, Ryan Goodnough, Justin Harris, Jeff Hinkle, Ryan Hoffenberg, Trevor Jamison, Kieran Kenney, Carpenter Pagett, Connor Pettek, Jake Ramirez, Jack Reider, Travis Rick, Justinian Roberts, Jovanni Rosa, Blake Rutherford, Tanner Shobe and Scotland Yannello contributed all season for the Simi Valley bantam team.

In the other Super Bowls involving local teams, Vikings Junior One Gold team defeated Santa Clarita Navy 22-14, while the Simi Valley Mighty Mite Green fell 206. The Vikings Junior Two White squad lost to Camarillo Gold, 34-14.

Composed of players 11 and 12, Junior One Gold used a ballcontrol offense to stymie its foe and complete an 11-2 season.

Jared Harris had two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score, while Garrett Brossard added a rushing score and a twopoint conversion reception. Dakota Endres also had a two-point catch.

Nick Hartzheim finished Santa Clarita Navy with a late interception and also ran the ball well. Quarterback Sean Barry completed the extra-point passes and guided the offense while teammates Chad Carlson, Anthony Couch, Ezra Lupoli, Cameron Ross and Jonathan Karl led the defense.

"Our season as a whole went great," said head coach Ed Toczynski, who led his third team to a championship. "It's exciting for the kids and the parents."

Jesse Aucelluzzo, Cody Barta, Wyatt Birg, Tanner Dowling, Deric Ginther, Christian Gould, Anthony Huichan, Tristen Krieger, Bryson Lascelles, Tommy Mora, Brandon Prisk and Kiyoshi Yamamoto also contributed for Junior One Gold.

Mitchell Shelby rushed for two touchdowns while Nick Vigo added a two-point conversion run, but the Junior Two White team (11-2) couldn't hold onto an 8-6 lead.

"This was an outstanding group of kids. I couldn't have asked for a better group," said head coach Mike Murphy, who has led his teams to the past three Super Bowls since Gold Coast split with the Pacific Youth Football League.

"As good as the kids were as football players, they were even better human beings. In nine years of doing youth football, it was the best experience I've had. It was an enjoyable, hasslefree season." Other players who contributed for the Junior Two were Austin Adair, Dane Case, Steven Duron, Collin Gordon, Connor Helm, Jared Honda, Sergio Ibarra, Terry Johnson, Dominic Matera, Shane Murphy, Connor Smith, Dylan Suchomel, Spencer Summers, Brian Tucker, Elijah Via, Preston White, Dominic Zazzarino and Ryan Zimmerman.

The Vikings Mighty Mite squad was 12-0 heading into the Super Bowl, but couldn't beat the Wildcats a second time. The Mighty Mite Green team defeated Santa Clarita 14-6 on Oct. 27.

"They were over-excited," head coach Bill Dobbs said. "Maybe it was too much pressure for the little guys. But it was a fun year and a great team. The nice thing was it took 19 players to make this team successful. We didn't have one kid carry us."

Anthony Acosta, Bryce Albaugh, Brandon Baynes, Casey Crawford, Tyler Dobbs, Wyatt Endres, Kyler Escutia, Joseph Fagan, Chandler Herpick, Dallas Holliday, Gage Jimenez, Ranger Markel, Vincenzo McFadden, Anthony Porrazo, Cole Reibenspies, Colton Rogers, Jake Simons, Brandon Thompson and Sebastian Vega contributed for the Vikings Mighty Mite Green team.