The Ceres Seahawks pee-wee youth football team won the ultimate prize.

The Seahawks captured the Cen-Cal League Super Bowl title with a 35-26 win over the Turlock 49ers on Nov. 22 at Turlock High School.

"It's the ultimate goal every year," Seahawks head coach Junior Schaefer said. "To actually do it is very special for everybody. The kids worked hard."

Ceres (13-0) and Turlock (12-1) entered the championship game with identical 12-0 records.

"Turlock has a good program every year," Schaefer said. "That's something we strive for. I knew it was going to be a special year after our first couple of games."

Isaiah Hidalgo led the Seahawks' rushing attack with five touchdowns.

Hidalgo, one of Ceres' safeties on defense, also intercepted two passes.
"He's one of the most talented kids I've coached as far as being able to read the game at his age," Schaefer said.

Thomas Lopez (center), Alejandro Hernandez (right guard), Vincent Cruz (right tackle), Isaac Delgado (left guard), Armando Diaz (left tackle) and Roberto Tiscareno (tight end) provided the blocking.

Eli Beltran (outside linebacker), Anthony Martinez (outside linebacker) and Andrew Brown (cornerback) were major contributors on the defensive side of the ball.

"All of the kids played well," Schaefer said.

The game saw six lead changes in the opening half.

"It was a slugfest," said Schaefer, whose team trailed 6-0, 13-7 and 20-15 before grabbing a 23-20 lead heading into intermission.

Ceres outscored Turlock 12-6 in the second half. Hidalgo helped set up both of the Seahawks' touchdowns with interceptions.
The 49ers tallied their final TD as time expired.

"They got impatient and tried to throw the ball," Schaefer said. "We got a couple of picks. That was the difference in the game."

Ceres and Turlock had a combined record of 24-0 prior to facing off in the Super Bowl.

"I was surprised at how well we played," Schaefer said. "Watching game film, there's no negatives. We kept battling. It was a real exciting game."

The 49ers allowed just 31 points during their first 12 games.

"We scored 35," Schaefer said. "Offensively, we did what we usually do. We were able to run the ball pretty well."

For the second week in a row, Schaefer got doused with water at the conclusion of a game.

The Seahawks punched their ticket to the Super Bowl with a 36-12 romp of the tradition-rich Turlock Vikings in the AFC championship tilt on Nov. 15 at Atwater High School.

The Vikings (10-2) won back-to-back Cen-Cal Super Bowl titles (2013, 2012).

Ceres snapped the Vikings' 30-game winning streak during the regular season.

The Seahawks completed a perfect run through Cen-Cal League play.

"Watching the kids celebrate was the best part," Schaefer said. "They were very excited. It's something I'll never forget."

Schaefer was an assistant coach on the 2005 NYFL Super Bowl champion Ceres Falcons junior-varsity youth football squad.

"That was my first year coaching," he said.