The 14U Gridley Titans celebrate their win in the first ever SYF Super Bowl on Nov. 9, at Bear River High School.

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - For the first time in Sacramento Youth Football (SYF) history, a Super Bowl consisting of the National Athletic League division champions Gridley Titans and the Pioneer Valley League division champions Bradshaw Christian Pride was scheduled. The big game was played Saturday, Nov. 9, at Bear River High School with the Titans coming back from an early eighteen-point deficit to win by a final score of 28-18.

The game started with Bradshaw Christian receiving the ball first. The Pride were able to capitalize on the first drive and score a touchdown. Gridley received the ball on the ensuing kickoff and were initially able to move down field only to be stopped on a fourth down, turning the ball back over to the Pride.

Bradshaw with the ball again, was able to march down the field and score another touchdown. Gridley did not give up, and on their next drive they continued to move down the field. Bradshaw Christian, with momentum on their side, was able to put pressure on Titans quarterback Alec Luquin as he was attempting a pass and hit his arm, allowing a Bradshaw player to intercept the ball and return it for a touchdown. Down 18 to zero with two minutes left on the clock before halftime.

The Titans still did not give up. They have shown over the years that the game is not over until all four quarters have been played, so as Gridley marches down the field in under two minutes, Luquin connected with receiver Isaiah Juarez for a 26-yard catch that put the titans in the red zone. With momentum now on the Titans’ side, they were able to punch in a 1-yard touchdown run by Chandler Dixon right before half. Kicker Jose Briseno made the PAT kick making the halftime score 18-7.

At the start of the second half The Titans kept momentum on their side, marching down the field aided by great blocking by the offensive line and great running from Hudson Oakley and Benny Zumwalt who was able to punch in a 1-yard touchdown. The Titans were successful on the PAT making the score 18-14.

A key factor to the Titans’ second half success was great kicking from Jaiden Bandy who was able to kick and recover two onside kicks, and pooch one to the left side of the field, which was recovered by Gridley’s Isaiah Juarez. Those key kicks allowed the Gridley Titans to have possession for the majority of the second half.

With the Gridley Titans marching down the field late in the second half, they were facing a fourth down and eight, when Alec Luquin was able to connect with Isaiah Juarez for a 33-yard completion to keep the drive alive. Hudson Oakley was then able to punch in a 10-yard run for a touchdown. The successful 2-point conversion allowed the Titans to take their first lead in the game 22-18.

Bradshaw Christian had one last chance to march down the field and score but were starting the drive with the ball on their own 15-yard line. The Gridley Titans were able to drive them backwards and stop them all 4 downs, allowing the Titans to get possession back at the Pride one yard line. Benny Zumwalt was able punch in one last touchdown to seal the game.

Titans Head Coach Tony Luquin commented on his team’s great achievement, “This team I’ve been able to coach for the last seven years is something special, the hard work and dedication they have has shown in their work. In the last four seasons we have been able to have a record of 42-1 and won four NAL division championships, and this year the first ever SYF Super Bowl Championship. That one loss that happened this season was the best thing to happen to the team because it reminded them what it felt like to lose and let me tell you they did not like it one bit, they used it as fuel the remainder of the season.”