2010 Game 2: Yellow Jackets vs. San Jose Sharks

Swarming Yellow Jackets Ruled the Field All Day

The pictures from this game are available at the Novato Yellow Jackets photo site.

Game Summary

The Yellow Jackets traveled to San Jose Academy High School to take on the San Jose Sharks for their second game of the season.  While the field was hot Novato was hotter as they shut down the home team for their second straight win.

Novato won the coin toss and received the opening kick-off.  After a great return by Nate Barkus the Yellow Jackets promptly drove the field and scored on a 2-yard run by Ben Putman.  Jackson Wegner kicked the 2-point conversion for a quick 8-0 lead.

The Yellow Jacket defense then took the field and promptly shut down the Sharks for a quick 4-and-out to get the ball back.  It was a pattern that would be followed all day as the defense allowed no points and not a single first down on the way to their first shutout of the young season.

Novato promptly made the way down the field again on its second drive.  Putman capped it again, this time with a 9-yard touchdown run.  After another 2-point Wegner conversion the Yellow Jackets were up 16-0.

After the second 4-and-out from the defense Novato drove and scored again.  This time it culminated in an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jack Burnham to tight-end Joe Kelly.  After adding another Wegner 2-point conversion Novato was up 24-0.

Not to be outdone, the defense got into the scoring act on the next Sharks drive.  Linebacker Stone Herrera and lineman Donja Stephens put significant pressure on the San Jose quarterback causing the ball to soar off course and into the hands of linebacker Marc Alvarez.  Alvarez picked his way down the field for the touchdown.  Wegner followed with his fourth 2-point PAT and the Yellow Jackets were up 32-0 with 4:47 left in the second quarter, invoking the "mercy rule" for the remainder of the game.

The mercy rule means the clock continues to run and the leading team can no longer pass the ball on offense, cannot blitz on defense and no longer kicks extra points.  The losing team gets the ball starting on it's own 40-yard line on each subsequent score.

After another stop on defense the Yellow Jackets left the field at half-time leading 32-0

The second half proved much the same, only much faster.  The Yellow Jackets defense held firm.  And the restricted offense still proved formidable and drove the field twice for scores.  The first was a 13-yard touchdown run by Alvarez for what would have been the 38th point.  The second was a strong 17-yard run by Barkus for his first touchdown of the year and what would have been a final 44-0 score.

Final Score: Novato Yellow Jackets 32*, San Jose Sharks 0

* The scoring was capped via the "mercy rule" or the final score would have been 44-0.

Season Record: 2-0

Next Up: The Mira Loma Jr. Matadors - Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 3:00 pm at the Novato High School field.

Game Gallery

The Offense prepares for another big play!

Ben Putman scores for the second time

Robbie Cassee on a long catch and run

Joe Kelly gets another touchdown catch for his 3rd of the year

Stone Herrera and Donja Stephens harass the QB to force an interception

Marc Alvarez breaks free for his second TD of the game

Nate Barkus on his way to a score

Hunter Wegner, Chris Folsom & Putman knock the ball loose

More smothering Yellow Jackets defense

2010 Game 1: Yellow Jackets vs. Emeryville Ravens

The Yellow Jackets are ready to rumble!

The pictures from this game are available at the Novato Yellow Jackets photo site.

Game Summary

The Yellow Jackets officially started their 2010 season on Sunday, September 5 with a home game against the Emeryville Ravens.  With the move the the AYF NorCal Conference this year, Novato is now up against some new foes and a few old ones as well. In this case the Emeryville squad is the latest iteration of the Tri-City Ravens, with their distinctive black and purple uniforms.

While the game started almost an hour late after a full slate of battles throughout the day, the conditions were perfect with bright sun, warm bordering on hot, and a relatively full house at Novato High School to watch the hometown black and gold.

The Yellow Jackets won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball first, usually a good sign.  In this case Novato gave the ball up deep in its own territory leading to a quick Ravens score and a 6-0 hole.

But that was about the end of the bad news for the home team this day.  After a strong runback on the second kick-off Novato drove the field and capped it with a Jack Burnham touchdown toss to Joe Kelly. The Yellow Jackets took an 8-6 lead with a Jackson Wegner 2-point PAT and the black and gold were on the way.

The Jackets vaunted defense almost shut-out the Ravens the rest of the way, yielding few yards while harassing the Ravens' quarterback, runners and receivers all day.  While the D gave up an unfortunately wide-open touchdown reception in the second quarter, Danny Dreher intercepted another pass and Ben Putman landed on a loose-ball fumble to keep the ball mostly in Novato's possession.

And the Yellow Jackets made the most of it.  Kelly scored a second touchdown on another catch and run from Burnham to put Novato up 16-6 following another Wegner PAT.  Wegner ended the day with 8 points on 4 PATs.  But the real scoring was yet to come.

The heavy scoring was done by Marc Alvarez who caught and ran the ball for the next 4 Yellow Jackets touchdowns.  The result was a 44-12 win and a strong start to the new season.

"The boys really played well today," said head coach John Jones. "We still have areas where we can improve, but we stepped up to the challenge in game one.  I can't say enough about this defense - they really got the job done. The captains stepped up on both sides of the ball and we got terrific play from both the offensive and defensive lines.  And our quarterback and running backs kept the pressure on their defense all day long.  This was a great way to start the season."

Final Score: Novato Yellow Jackets 44, Emeryville Ravens 12

2010 Record: 1-0

Next Up: San Jose Sharks at 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 11 at San Jose Academy High School.

Highlight Photos:

The first of four Jackson Wegner 2-point PATs

Joe Kelly goes in for his second TD of the day

Robbie Cassee runs for a first down

Big Ben Putman stops the Raven's receiver in his tracks

Marc Alvarez dives for one of his four TDs