La Mirada (CA) vs. Mandarin (FL)

“Tigers Tame Matadores!”


Talk about excitement! This Junior Pee Wee Division 1 National Championship game had it all. Big goal line stops. Huge tackle-breaking touchdown runs. Laser-sharp passes by both quarterbacks and , as Coach Kent said, lots and lots of “heart” on both sides.

With the stands rocking to all the color and the big sounds of a Disney Wide World of Sports pre-game celebration, fans and supporters from both coasts were ready for a tilt of true champions. While the Tigers had stormed into this Pop Warner Championship Week on the strength of wins where the steamrolled the opposition, the Blue Matadores had to fight and claw and scratch their way through game-after-game , pounding out victories in overtime and double overtime. By today, the stage was set for an all-out battle between two time tested champions.

In the first quarter, both the Tigers and the Blue Matadores vied for field position, with lots of determined runs and plenty of tough hits, but no scoring. Then, with 45 seconds to go in the quarter, the Tigers tailback took a handoff and swept around the right side of the La Mirada line. The Matadores defense struck, and struck hard. But somehow the Tiger running back shook loose, burst forward, and was suddenly free down the right sidelines and off to the races, tearing 50 yards down the field for the touchdown. The try for PAT was wide left and at the end of the first quarter, the score stood Mandarin 6- La Mirada 0 .

In the second quarter, the Blue Matadores came right back, driving down field The drive was highlighted by a quarterback roll out and a beautiful pass completion to the outside receiver all alone at the Mandarin 11 yard line.
Three plays later, Big Blue punched it into the end zone . The kick for a PAT was good and the La Mirada grabbed the lead at 8-6.

But, Mandarin was unfazed. Going on offense , they used their talented running backs and great line play to drive all the way down to the one yard line of the Matadores. Then, with 2:58 left in the half, they pushed forward into the end zone for the touchdown. The PAT was no good and the Tigers had regained the lead at 12-8. Then, late in the half, the Tigers again moved the ball downfield highlighted by a sweep for 12 yards to the Matadores 18 yard line. La Mirada put up a stiff goal line defense, but the Tigers barely stretched the ball over the goal line from the one-yard line. This time the kick for PAT was good and, at the half, the score stood Mandarin 20- La Mirada 8 .


In the third quarter, the fired up La Mirada offense smashed down field, again mixing off tackle slants and passes in the flat to move all the way to the Tigers one-yard line. But on 4th down and goal to go, the Tiger defense rose as one to throw back the Blue Matadores quarterback on a keeper play at the one foot line!

La Mirada's defense, however , didn't yield much yardage, and with 4th down and 8 to go on their two yard line, the Tigers quarterback opted to run out of his own end zone for a safety. The score now stood Mandarin 20- La Mirada 10.

La Mirada kept up the pressure in the 4th quarter. But, while the Tigers defense did bend , it never broke. Finally, with 1:40 to go in the game, and La Mirada facing a 4th down on its own 42 yard line, the Tiger defense stormed through the line and smothered the Blue Matadores quarterback for a loss. On the next play, Mandarin busted-loose a twisting, driving run to the La Mirada 15 yard line. From there, they took a knee and the game ended with Mandarin up 20- 10.

“Our line played a determined game on both sides of the ball, “ said a beaming and relieved Coach Kent. “ We played a very tough team today in those Blue Matadores. We just seemed to find a way to dig down deep and play with all the heart we could muster.”

Congratulations to the Mandarin Tigers on their first ever Pop Warner Division 1 Jr. Pee Wee National Championship. And congratulations as ell to the La Mirada Blue Matadores for a great championship run and some of the most exciting football we've seen at Pop Warner Super Bowl Week in quite awhile.
Hope to see both teams back again next year for PWLS Super Bowl- 2006!