COLTON - By morning, Bill Holland was gripped in the body-ache that comes from a 45-year-old playing hours of full-contact football. But Holland's pains were soothed by dominating victories, both on the field and off. "Last night was a good one," Holland said, alluding to the 40 or so kids from the San Bernardino County Special Olympics, for whom the game raised money. "It was the most rewarding event we've ever put on." And they won 36-0. In front of a crowd of about 800 at Colton High School, the Inland Empire Enforcers dominated the Ventura County Badgers in the annual Cops 'N' Jocks full-contact football game, using stout defense and a big-play offense to jump to a 23-0 lead at halftime and cruise to victory. The Enforcers included officers from the San Bernardino, Redlands, Chino and Colton police departments, deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, San Bernardino County probation officers and Orange County firefighters and some nonsworn players. The Badgers included officers from the Oxnard and Santa Barbara police departments, deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, officers from the Ventura County Probation Department and firefighters with the Santa Paula Fire Department. The Cops 'N' Jocks program was started
in 1993 by officers in Santa Paula. The Enforcers were created later by Holland, a Hesperia-based sheriff's deputy and Detective Mike Hamrick of the San Bernardino Police Department. The game was a hard-hitting affair, but the players - who are valuable to their respective communities - escaped unscathed. "There were no injuries," said Colton Police Officer Rich Randolph, director of the Cops 'N' Jocks program. "That's important in our line of work." On Saturday night, the thrills came from more than just the field. The game started with a flyover by a San Bernardino County sheriff's helicopter. At halftime, Dax, a K-9 German shepherd extraordinaire from Colton PD, sprinted end zone to end zone to tackle a "suspect," in a protective suit. More than 100 T-shirts and "don't use drugs" miniature footballs were thrown into the stands. But the action on the field was just as thrilling. The Inland Empire squad's defense pitched a shutout. "Our defense was stellar," exclaimed Holland, who played center in Saturday's contest. Offensively, the Enforcers relied on big plays in their passing game and strong, consistent ground yardage from Eddie Herrera, a Redlands police officer and bull of a running back. Holland anchored a sturdy offensive line, which also included his 23- and 18-year-old sons. On the last play of the first half, quarterback Glenn Thompkins scrambled around midfield, eluding a handful of would-be tacklers, before firing a nearly 50-yard scoring strike to Josh Vaughn, a New Mexico State college student. A handful of Enforcers players are not sworn law enforcement, but that often changes. "It's a great mentoring program," Holland said. The Enforcers are now 3-1 this year, with their lone loss to the Los Angeles Centurians. Their next game is scheduled for May 17 against the Phoenix Thunder, in Phoenix. The Enforcers' offense rolled up a lot of points and yardage, but in the end, Holland said one number loomed largest. "Raising over $3,000 for the Special Olympics," Holland said. "That's special."