PEE WEE SUPER BOWL:Seahawks just miss out on Super comeback

MISSION VIEJO — Coach Tim Kuzmic said it probably took his Newport-Mesa Junior All-American Seahawks about four or five plays to adjust to the game speed.

By then, Carson’s Da Vonte’ Young had already rumbled for a 46-yard touchdown run on the Colts’ first play from scrimmage.

The Pee Wee Division Seahawks, made up of 11- and 12-year-olds, kept battling but fell short in the end, 26-16, in the Orange County Junior All-American Football Super Bowl on Sunday at Mission Viejo High.

“Getting down real early was tough,” Kuzmic said. “We had a goal of not letting that happen, and it happened, so we had to play catch-up the whole game. That made us pass the ball a lot more than we normally would.”

Carson (13-0), which made it to the OCJAAF Pee Wee Super Bowl last year as well, played like it had been there before. The Colts used a fumble on Newport-Mesa’s first possession to set up their second touchdown, a 21-yard scamper to the left by Reginald Martin.

The Seahawks (10-3), representing NMJAAF in their first Pee Wee level Super Bowl since 1991, soon began to warm up. Newport-Mesa’s next drive featured an eight-yard run by Justice Gildart, giving the Seahawks a first down at the Carson 45.

Gildart ran for 116 yards on the day, but credited a solid Carson defensive line.

“Every play, it was just hard,” Gildart said. “It was hard to gain even a couple of yards. Their defensive line was getting in quick.”

After his first-down scamper, three consecutive snaps were fumbled, the last being recovered by Carson. Three plays later, Young was at it again, breaking three tackles while racing down the right sideline for a 42-yard score.

Newport-Mesa found itself down, 20-0, with 6:51 left before halftime. But the Seahawks showed heart, battling back.

They immediately went on a 64-yard drive, capped by Gildart’s 31-yard touchdown run that was sprung by Kellon Truxton’s nice block downfield.

After Grant Garrett nailed the two-point conversion kick, the deficit was down to 20-8. And Garrett’s ensuing onside kick, recovered by James Christian, gave Newport-Mesa the ball back with under three minutes left in the half.

Jake Stowell nearly caught a touchdown pass on the Seahawks’ next possession, the ball barely being jarred loose by incoming defender Jason McCorvey, and Carson took the 20-8 lead into halftime.

The Seahawks’ Jack Kanen intercepted a pass at the Newport-Mesa 43 midway through the third quarter, and the Seahawks began marching downfield. But on fourth-and-five at the Carson 24, an incomplete pass gave the Colts the ball back.

Newport-Mesa, to its credit, again refused to quit. After getting the ball back early in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks began driving again.

On third-and-11 at the Carson 20, quarterback Chase Favreau bulleted a TD pass to Stowell, who was on a slant route, in tight coverage.

“I just wanted to get in the end zone,” said Stowell, in his first year with the Seahawks. “I didn’t care what I did, I just wanted to catch it and run. That’s what one of our coaches told me, just catch and run.”

After Garrett’s kick, it was 20-16 with 7:36 left in the fourth quarter, and the Seahawks were visibly pumped up. But Carson had just enough time for one more big play.

Young cut up the middle on Carson’s next possession, before sprinting to the sideline and finding the end zone on a 33-yard score. His third touchdown of the game made it 26-16, Carson, with 5:04 left to play.

“I’m proud of the guys,” Kuzmic said. “They came back and played real well in the second half, but just too many big plays for Carson. Hopefully next year, if we get another chance, we take that experience we got today and use it.”

Gildart said he too was thankful for the experience, and the chance to play in the Super Bowl. Like many of the Newport-Mesa Pee Wee players, it had been a long time coming.

“I’ve been playing for the Seahawks for six years, and I haven’t been past the second round,” Gildart said. “It was really exciting and special for me to make it all the way to the Super Bowl.”