Yuba-Sutter fans live, die with 49ers in Super Bowl

Nobody could walk away from the Casimiros' home during the Super Bowl on Sunday and wonder where the family's team allegiance lies.

Flags, football helmets, fountains and footwear all bore the mark of the San Francisco 49ers. Trees were lined with gold decorations next to a fountain that spurted red water. Even Bodie, an enormous American bulldog, flaunted colorful Niners clothing.

"This has been going on since the beginning of the season," said Julie Casimiro, the mother of Tony Casimiro, owner of the home along with his wife, Jeanne.

Niners fans were out in full force Sunday as their team contended for its first Super Bowl victory since 1995. House parties, restaurants and bars were among Yuba-Sutter's popular hangouts for the title game.

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For the Casimiro family, superstition played the biggest role when choosing where to watch the game. The family had watched every Niners game this season at the same house, said Julie Casimiro, and they weren't about to ruin their good luck by switching venues.

"Every time we've gone to other homes to watch the game, the Niners lost," she said. "So we came back."

Additionally, sitting in the same spots, eating "good luck" food and participating in a family chant are among the clan's weekly football routine.

In the first quarter of the game, optimism at the Casimiro household was palpable, but not unwavering. A fumble by 49ers running back LaMichael James had the family questioning their superstition system.

"Is everyone in their right spot?" Julie Casimiro said.

At The Wood Butcher bar in Marysville, locals played games and participated in raffles during the Super Bowl halftime show.

San Francisco was down 21-6 at the half, but patrons at the Butcher were staying positive.

"Our offense will get it going in the second half," Marysville resident Zack Schroeber said.

Manager Vicki Pedley kept her customers happy by giving out beer glasses, key chains, Sacramento Kings tickets and sleeping bags. Activities — which included throwing pingpong balls into a basketball hoop strapped to someone's head — kept patrons happy while food kept stomachs full.

"We started at the Cortez (bar), but the Cortez was packed. So we came here," Schroeber said. "It's nice — nice people, good food, good vibe."

At The Happy Viking sports pub in Yuba City, several Niners fans had left by halftime because of a severe scoring deficit, manager Chris Drown said. A few more cleared out after the Baltimore Ravens scored on the opening kickoff of the second half.

Drown said he could feel his customers' pain.

"I was really hoping (the 49ers) were going to preserve their perfect 5-0 Super Bowl record," he said during the third quarter, "but it doesn't look like that's going to happen."

The Happy Viking was packed when the game began at 3:30 p.m., but thinned out quickly, Drown said. An abundance of house parties was blamed for the smaller-than-expected turnout.

CONTACT Griffin Rogers at grogers@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4783. Find him on Facebook at /ADgriffinrogers or on Twitter at @ADgriffinrogers.