By Darrel Wheeler, Contributing Writer
On the first Saturday of this month the Valencia Park (VP) Hornets played their first home games of this Pop Warner season.
The new look Hornets finally had the opportunity to get off the road and play at home in front of their families and friends. The Hornets sent three teams to accept the challenges from Oceanside and Temecula’s football teams with VP winning 2 out of the 3 contests.
The Hornet Flag footballers were also victorious Saturday, playing at another site.
“We are trying to bring our association back to consistency and respectability,” shared Vice President Dwayne Harvey. “I think we are headed in the right direction, but it’s going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach, including the kids, parents, association and community to get VP close to how it use to be,” Harvey said.
From the 60’s until the mid-20s, the Hornets were one of, if not the most respected, feared and successful, Pop Warner associations in San Diego. Recently, it’s been survival mode for the proud Hornets-Nation, adapting their nickname from Lincoln High School’s Hornets.
On the field, the 11-U Hornets had to overcome a host of penalties to finally claim victory.
Jadiel Marcelino, Alexander Mecardo, Ethen Harper, and Giovanni Brown were some of the players who helped power VP to victory.
“It took us a while to finally figure out we were better than them, and we came out in the second half and played like we were supposed to but will have to do better next week getting ready for the playoffs,” shared VP’s Giovanni Brown.
The (13-U) VP team, widely considered the best Pop Warner team in America’s Finest City added another ”W” to their undefeated season.
(11-U) VP Assistant coach Monty Youngsmith said, “I think VP is on track for an association comeback. We have four teams and they are all good. I think we will be ok, but of course it will take a whole lot of work.”
Under the leadership of President David Dunn and staff, the VP Hornets will try to work their football magic and get the new and improved Hornets back on the map of respectability.
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