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Photograph by Dick Sparrer
In a Hurry: Quarterback Michael Estrella races around the corner for a gainer in PAL football action. Estrella helped Willow Glen win the midget division title this fall.
Willow Glen midgets win PAL football crown
By Dick Sparrer
The New York Jets won the Super Bowl in 1969, and they haven't been back since. The Florida Marlins won the World Series in 1997, and haven't come close to a repeat.
And the Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup once ... in 1989.
All of them were one-year wonders. And the midgets of the Willow Glen Youth Football organization weren't about to follow that road.
The midgets backed up a 2000 championship with a 2001 Police Athletic League title, beating Milpitas 20-12 to clinch the PAL crown.
"This was a great ending to the best season the midgets have ever had," said coach Gerald McGuire, "especially when no one thought we could get this thing last year and turn around and win it again--proving we weren't a one-year wonder."
Willow Glen rolled up a 7-1 regular season record, then swept through the playoffs with three straight wins.
The local midgets opened postseason play with a lopsided 28-0 win over Berryessa, then pulled out a thrilling 26-20 overtime win over the Eastside Youth Athletic Club to move into the finals.
Willow Glen fought from behind again to knock off Milpitas 20-12 in the title game.
Down 12-8 at the half, WG battled back to take the lead when Michael Morales ran back a punt 43 yards for a third-quarter touchdown to put the locals up 14-12.
Willow Glen added an insurance score in the fourth when Gary Correa scored on a 3-yard run, and the locals had enough to clinch the win and the title.
Jason Baizas had given Willow Glen the early lead with a 65-yard touchdown run in the first half. Morales kicked the 2-point conversion to put the midgets up 8-0.
But Milpitas scored twice before the half to jump in front 12-8. That just set up the second-half comeback for WG.
Quarterback Michael Estrella led the offense for Willow Glen, and the line of tackles Ryan Blach and Jason D'Amico, guards Joseph Molina and Brian Farnsworth, center Andrew Muniz-Meraz and tight end Joseph Alvarez led the charge up front. Gonzalo Zesati, Will Evans, Josh Johnson, Dan Shehan, Anthony Schmidt and Tonna McCabe were also singled out for their line play.
Linebackers Eugene Martinez and Raymond Machuca starred defensively for Willow Glen in the win. Cornerbacks Elijah Trejo and Mark Piethe and safety Dustin Manning were standouts in the secondary. Defensive linemen J.J. Kuiusich and Daniel Hernandez and outside linebacker Jose Hernandez were other key defensive players.
Punter-placekicker Nick Muniz led the special teams effort in the win.
Willow Glen had pulled out a thrilling win over EYAC in the semifinals. Two key passes from Estrella to Alvarez keyed the comeback. The two hooked up with a 40-yarder to set up the tying touchdown, and Alvarez scored the winner when he pulled in a toss from Estrella in the end zone.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
