The members of the Ceres Seahawks' varsity, junior-varsity, pee-wee and rookie youth football squads scrimmaged against the Manteca Cowboys last Wednesday at Central Valley High School.

"We've never had a turnout like this," said Willie Solorio, third-year president. "It was packed. You couldn't find a place to park or sit. We had pretty close to 500 people out here tonight. It was unbelievable."

The Ceres Seahawks youth football and cheerleading organization will kick off the 2015 campaign on Saturday with home games against the Modesto Broncos.

The Seahawks signed up 140 football players and 60 cheerleaders, aged 7-14, for their ninth season of competition.

"We try to treat everybody with respect," Solorio said. "If a kid can't afford to play, we offer fundraising opportunities for registration. We do all we can for the kids. Ninety percent of our kids are returners."

Joe Borba (varsity), Anthony Lopez (junior varsity), Junior Schaefer (pee wee) and Randy Flanagan (rookie) will serve as head coaches for the Seahawks' football teams.

Cheer coaches are: Nikki Solorio (varsity), Tammie Nester (junior varsity), Cassie Profeta (pee wee) and Jasmine Grays (rookie).

Practices are held Monday through Friday, from 6-8 p.m., at Central Valley High School.

The Seahawks' Cen-Cal Jr. Youth Football League schedule includes games against the Broncos, Livingston Wolves (9/5), Los Banos Wildcats (9/12), Turlock Bulldogs (9/19), Manteca Jaguars (9/26), Oakdale Stampede (10/3), Buhach Colony Thunder (10/10), Manteca Buffaloes (10/17), Merced Cougars (10/24) and Central Valley 49ers (10/31).
"There's a lot of excitement out here," Willie Solorio said.