Glenn County Observer
The Willows Junior Honker youth football and cheer organization continues to be a success.
“We want to thank all of our youth football and cheer athletes for their hard work they put in throughout the season,” said WJH President Marisol Bobadilla. “We’d also like to thank the board members and coaches for volunteering to help the organization move forward positively and always being there to support our local youth.”
On Saturday, Oct. 29, the Willows Junior Honkers hosted the Sacramento National Athletic League Championship games. The excitement started with Las Plumas 8 and under Thunderbirds versus Central Valley Falcons 8 and under teams.
Las Plumas upset Central Valley and were crowned champions.
The 10 and under teams that competed for the championship were the Las Plumas Thunderbirds versus the Corning Lions. The Thunderbirds proved to be the better team and became champions.
The 12 and under face off was between the hard-hitting Gridley Titans versus the unified Corning Lions. In the end the Gridley Titans cruised to the championship.
In 2019, the Willows Junior Honkers transitioned from the Norcal Federation Football League to the Sacramento Youth Football League. With this change in league the Willows Junior Honkers organization board, led by President Marisol Bobadilla, were presented the opportunity to host the first championship game, where the 10U Willows Junior Honkers team played the Oroville Rhinos and unfortunately came up one play short of the championship game.
They lost on the last play of the game.
In 2021, this same team moved up to 12U and again they made the championship game but this time it was against an undefeated Paradise Bobcats, whom they had upset the previous year in order to make the 10U championship.
Willows came out strong and went into the half with a lead. The stunned Paradise Bobcats made an impressive comeback and ended up winning the championship.
Although Willows earned the respect of the Paradise coaches and players, since up until then, no team had challenged them that season.
This year, this same Willows Jr. Honkers team, now 14U, finished the regular season with a 6-2 record in the SYF National Athletic League. They qualified to make the playoffs and got the opportunity to avenge their two losses during their playoff run.
They defeated the Corning Lions in the first round of the Sacramento Youth Football playoffs. They then faced the Gridley Titans, who recently had defeated them in the regular season but this time Willows came out victorious and finally had the honor of being called champions.
Congratulations to the Willows Junior Honkers 14U football team on their championship. It’s been a long journey but, teamwork, discipline, determination and brotherhood were built along the way.
The WJH Head Coach is Juan Puente. Assistant coaches are Adam Neuhauer, Tony Arendt, Dan Blair, Pedro Bobadilla and Juvenal Sandoval.
“We would like to wish our 8th grade 14U cheer and football athletes a great remainder of their school year and will be excited to see them ‘under the lights’ next year,” said Marisol Bobadilla.
(Article courtesy of Marisol Bobadilla.)
The Glenn County Observer 