Islanders Knock-Off Defending Champs

Ryan Buchan, Islanders Staff Writer
Apr. 5, 2008

Fresno, Calif. – The defending Central Valley Football League champion, Clovis Wolves, were shutdown by the Pacifica Islanders. The Islanders posted another blowout with this 33-3 victory.

The Defense showed why they are the stingiest defense in minor league football, giving up only 3 points in this game, and 31 points in six games.

“We snuffed them,” head coach Jack Burgett said.
The Defense forced three fumbles and intercepted two passes.
The Wolves got into the red zone multiple times and could not get into the end zone.

Early in the second quarter Clovis got to the Islander 1-yard line, but a sack and a forced fumble ended all hopes of cutting into the Pacifica lead. Which was 17 at that time.
 
The defensive player of the game was defensive end Ben Unutoa, who had four tackles, and two sacks. I was “doing what I love to do, play football,” said Unutoa.
 
With such a terrific performance on the defensive side of the ball it was hard to pick a defensive player of the game. Safety and General Manager Tom Piccolotti felt that his performance was pretty good, but felt that Ben or Surrell deserved it. “It was fun out there laying it on the line with my players” Tom Piccolotti said. He had three tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection. He stated he was lobbying for his free lunch at Upper Crust.

The defense of the Islanders was so dominate that they actually outscored the Wolves offense 7-3. Surrell Davis intercepted a pass early in the game and ran it back for a touchdown.

Coach Burgett and his son Danny drove through the night from Boise, Idaho to be at the game this Saturday. Danny started at the outside linebacker position and had a quarterback sack and also 1 big tackle.
 
On the offensive side of the ball the Islanders were led by offensive player of the game Jason Piccolotti. “Jason is a field general,” offensive coordinator John Kirby said. Jason Piccolotti threw the ball for 217 yards, while completing 14 of 18 passes and one touchdown. “I enjoy letting everyone else get the ball, and let them go,” said Jason Piccolotti. He also had one run for ten yards that resulted in a touchdown. “It was so open I could have walked in,” he said.
 
The offensive performance was possible due to the superior blocking of the offensive line. “They dominated them” Kirby said.
Kirby called a good game, with the offense picking up 396 yards.
The leading rusher was Jarmar Julien with 147 yards and one touchdown. Julien scored the touchdown on a ten yard run where no defenders touched him.
 
For the sixth straight game the Islanders security was outstanding with Dino Cevasco in charge. Cevasco also put on a show for Islander fans with smooth dance moves.

The Islanders have their final game, before the playoffs begin, next week at home versus the Stanislaus Spartans. “I think we will be tuned up and ready for the playoffs,” Jason Piccolotti said.