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Both JPS Vikings Division 1 & 2 lose in playoffs

In Division 1, Leone wins against Vikings. [photo: EM]Tafuna wins the Division 2 playoff. [photo: EM]
ese@samoanews.com

The Junior Prep Sports (JPS) playoffs started on Wednesday with Division 2 (5th and 6th Graders) JPS Vikings playing the JPS Warriors. It was a tough defensive battle with both teams unable to score for three quarters. 

Finally in the fourth quarter, with less than 2 minutes remaining, QB for the JPS Warriors Francis Mauigoa took the ball 60 yards for the first and only touchdown of the game. The two-point conversion was no good leaving the score 6- 0 in Warriors favor. 

The JPS Vikings still had a lot of time left to comeback with a touchdown of their own, but their hopes were stopped when #17 Toalima Ho-Ching intercepted the ball off the Vikings pass and took it 49 yards to the 1-yard line with 17 seconds left on the clock. The Warriors took a knee, time expired and they now advance to play in next week’s JPS Division 2 Championship game against the winner of the Lions and the Wild Cats.

The action didn’t end here.

Next up was the Division 1 (7th and 8th graders) JPS Vikings playing the Division 1 JPS Lions. It was a fast paced, hard-hitting battle from the start with the JPS Lions Running Back #35 Sio Lealiifano scoring early on in the first quarter making it 6 - 0. 

The Vikings had a chance to score in the second quarter, but their 25-yard pass attempt for a touchdown was incomplete. The score remained the same until the fourth quarter when the Lions defense intercepted the ball and took it all the way for a touchdown, which led to the final score, Lions 12 — Viking 0. 

The Lions are now heading to next week’s JPS Division 1 Championship game against the winner of the Warriors and Wild Cats. Thursday night Playoffs will be on next Monday’s Samoa News issue. Congratulations to both teams heading to the Championship next Saturday, June 3rd.