Central Coast semi-pro football team wins fourth straight
game
GILROY – The Central Coast Barnstormers, a local semi-pro football team, improved to 4-0 on the CSAFL season by edging the Solano Chiefs, 30-28, on May 10 at South Valley Middle School Stadium.
With their latest victory, the Barnstormers – who will continue their homestand on Saturday against the Elk Grove Wolverines (3-1) at South Valley with a noon kick-off – also became cracked the Minor League Football News Top 25 weekly rankings of the Class AAA teams. The local gridmen debuted at No. 11 and dropped the Chiefs five spots from No. 12 to 17 in the nation.
The Barnstormers marched down the field on their first possession – ending with quarterback Brian Smith, formerly of San Benito High in Hollister, hitting David Gittens on a skinny post from the 20-yard line.
The Solano returner then fumbled the ball over to the Barnstormers inside the 10-yard line on the ensuing kick-off. Immediately, Smith connected with Arvin Sylvastre on a crossing pattern for another touchdown – taking the air out of the Chiefs right away.
The Barnstormers didn’t stop there. After the Chiefs went three-and-out and punted to opposing 30-yard line, the locals went back to work – sustaining a drive with the running of Tommy Jimenez and a 15-yard leaping grab by tight end Steven Syskco. Smith then found Michael Reyes on a 30-yard wheel play that led to a Raymond Cook TD to make it a 20-0 spread early in the second quarter.
Solano bounced back – scoring consecutive touchdowns to close the gap before the half. But the Barnstormers added a field goal via Juan Rios from 21 yards out to go in the locker room ahead, 23-14.
With the Chiefs’ defense playing stingy, the Stormers managed only one second-half score when Smith hit wide out Craig Shara.
The Solano offense capitalized – cutting the gap to nine with a third-quarter score. As time ticked away late, the Chiefs threatened for more – mounting an 80-yard drive that was capped off by a Joe Beacham TD grab. Solano was within 30-28, but its two-point conversion was batted away by Stormers’ Juan Rios. The Chiefs then attempted an onside kick that the Barnstormers recovered to seal the game.
Assistant coach Craig Ontiveros said that the team’s early success is the result of head coach Norman Kabani’s offensive schemes combined with defensive coordinator Jeff Borges’ ravenous defense as well as deep talent on both sides of the ball “that simply just knows how to reach down and cowboy it up each and every time out, is not only why we are 4-0 but also why we believer we will be champions.
