The Venice Vikings Pop Warner football programs opened their respective regular seasons with a number of big-time wins and spectacular performances this past weekend.
CAPE CORAL YOUTH 6, 6U VENICE VIKINGS 0The Venice Vikings 6U team opened the regular season by traveling down south to face the Cape Coral Youth Storm.
It was a defensive battle right from the start, ending with a late fourth quarter touchdown by the Storm. The defense — led by Easton Nikolaisen, Michael Steffens and Maverick Miller — created tremendous pressure up front.
The Venice offense was led by fantastic blocking up front by Walker Eplin, Cole VanKirk, Aiden Rezik and Nolan Kowalczik. They created openings for running backs Nakari Currington, Easton Morales, Julian Carrero, Kayson Hicks and Pheonix Thailberg.
In the second half, the Vikings started with the ball and moved down the field. However, they were stopped on fourth down by a great Storm defense. The Vikings fought the whole game, one that came down to the wire in a losing effort.
Next Saturday, the Vikings have their first home game against the Naples Gators.
8U VENICE VIKINGS 31, CAPE CORAL YOUTH 0The Venice Vikings 8U team kicked off their 2024 football season with a dominant win on the road at Cape Youth in Cape Coral.
The defense dominated the game from start to finish, never allowing a first down all game. Azion Williams, Jordan Wolvington and Karson Richardson each had an interception to stop multiple Storm drives in each half. Other defensive leaders were Cooper Guilfoyle, Chase McCord, Brantley Eplin and Bronson Bear. They helped lead the charge with multiple tackles and pass break ups.
The offense got on the board early and often, never taking its foot off the gas in the blowout win. Noamel Martinez got the scoring started in the first quarter with a 55-yard touchdown run. On the next drive, Martinez scored on a 38-yard touchdown run to extend the Venice lead to 13-0. The next score was a pass from quarterback Benni Adams to Williams for a 28-yard touchdown to end the first half.
Later, the Vikings got on the board in the third quarter with a 46-yard touchdown run by Richardson to put Venice up 25-0. The final score was the result of multiple hard runs from running back Kameren Bell as he punched it in from nine yards out to put Venice up 31-0. The running lanes were made possible through consistent blocking from Sergio Corona Jr., Mason Rogers, Brayden Hicks and Wyatt Hrovat.
The Vikings open up their home season this Saturday as the Naples Gators come to town.
10U VENICE VIKINGS 43, CAPE CORAL YOUTH 0The Venice Vikings 10U team traveled to Cape Coral to take on the Cape Coral Youth Storm on Saturday. It was a dominating performance by the Vikings, scoring seven touchdowns on offense, and not allowing a single first down in a shutout on defense.
Offensive standouts were Dadrian Richardson with four touchdowns, Jayden Charles with one touchdown, Carer Morgan-Asbury with one touchdown and Brayden Jones with a touchdown. Running back Cameron Pelt Jr. added an extra point as well. All the touchdowns wouldn’t have been possible without outstanding blocking from the offensive line led by Luke Bobacher, Kyree Hand, Blake Davezac, Keegan Kowalczyk and Noah Charles.
The defense was lights out as well, led by playmakers Luke Harris, Hank Harris, Jude Jones, Jackson Shinsky, Hudson Stough, Isaiah Wolvington, AJ Akins and Keyvari Johnson.
The Vikings will host the Naples Gators on Saturday at Letson Stadium.
11U VENICE VIKINGS 40, CAPE CORAL YOUTH 0The 11U Vikings traveled to Cape Youth for the season opener on Saturday, winning 40-0. The first drive set the tone, with quarterback TJ Zehr connecting with Bo Barrett to get the Vikings to the one-yard line. Later, McCord scored with a one-yard run. The second drive was led by running backs Major Bell and Caden Davezac marching down the field for another score. Additionally, running back Carter Steinhoff had three carries with two of them going for touchdowns.
The defense was solid all day as well, only allowing one first down. Barrett had an interception returned for a touchdown that was unfortunately called back by a penalty.
12U VENICE VIKINGS 41, CAPE CORAL YOUTH 6The Venice Vikings 12U team kicked off their regular season this past weekend on the road taking on the Cape Youth Storm. The Vikings went down to Cape Coral and won in dominating fashion. Venice started the game on defense, shutting down the Storm’s offense, forcing them into a turnover on downs.
On Venice’s first offensive possession, the Vikings went down the field and scored on a quarterback run by Mason Polly to take an early 6-0 lead.
Later, the Vikings defense was ready for the Storm’s offense again, sacking their quarterback on three straight plays and forcing another long fourth down try.
Coming back on offense, quarterback Owen McCord was rushing the ball easily on the Storm, completing passes left and right before braking away on a quarterback keeper for 40 yards for his second score of the game.
Anthony Alexander also contributed on the ground for Venice by scoring a 40-yard touchdown run off of a great reverse play.
The Vikings defense was led by numerous team tackles and sacks from Gage Wolvington, Jase Bigelow, Wyatt McCord, Chris Kiesel, Rylan Bannan, Cade Swafford, Nick Stough, Santino Deluca, Aiden Powell and Peyton Richardson.
Richardson and Bannan both played key roles by hitting Cape Youth’s quarterback in the backfield on numerous plays.
The Vikings host the Naples Gators on Saturday at home, looking to move to 2-0.
13U VENICE VIKINGS 16, NAPLES CANES 0The Venice Vikings 13U team traveled to Cape Coral to face the Naples Canes in a highly competitive matchup. Both teams won their respected divisions last year and were looking forward to finally battling it out.
Venice got on the board first with a recovered forced fumble followed by a 70-yard touchdown from Bryce Bigelow. The extra point would be good, kicked by Noah Wireman.
Defensively, cornerback Justin Gonzalez had multiple pass breakups and a touchdown saving tackle in the open field during the contest. Gonzalez also had a touchdown catch on offense at the end of the second quarter.
Excellent defensive line play by Alex Duff, Ryan Belvin and Colson McDermott helped Venice’s defense come up big all day. Venice’s defense forced a number of turnover on downs by the Canes, including a goal line stand inside the five-yard line.
The game was eventually called with nine minutes left in third quarter due to weather.
This weekend, the Venice Vikings host North Fort Myers on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
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