West Hartford Youth Football: Week Five

The 2012 season of the West Hartford Youth Football League (WHYFL) continued its 2012 Season Sunday, Oct. 7, with a full slate of games at the Mighty Mite (7-8 year olds), Pee Wee (9,10, and 11 year olds), Midget (12 year olds), and Pony (13 year olds) divisions at Sterling Field.

MIGHTY MITE DIVISION

Center Orthodontics Browns 33 - Spine & Sports Medicine Associates Steelers 13

On the first day that really felt like football, the Browns and Steelers squared off for their second meeting this season, with the Browns coming out the victor 33-13. Both teams were fired up and ready to play.

The Browns started off strong, it took all of five plays and 30 yard to put the first point on the board.  Jack Brown opened the scoring for the Browns with a 2-yard run, capped by a rushing conversion to put the Browns up 7-0.

The Steelers took possession on their opening drive and Dylan Swift made it all the way to the 6-yard line where he was stopped by a tenacious Browns defense.  The Browns went to work and began picking up yards, but the Steel Curtain had different ideas.  In what looked to be a great Browns run off tackle, turned into a Steelers Touchdown due the incredible play by Drew Taylor who stripped the ball from the Browns and ran it in to even up the score at 7-7.

On the next Browns possession, Dajuan Banks ran 28 yards setting up a 2 yard Matt Farber Touchdown, to push the Browns lead to 14-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, Matt Farber hustled down field and recovered the kick.  Four plays later, Eli Salomons punched it in to make the score 21-7 Browns.

The Steelers took control, methodically moving the ball down the field.  It took seven plays and a ton of determination, Drew Taylor ran the ball in with a ton of leg power and the Steelers scored to close the lead to 21-13 Browns. 

Play resumed in the second half with both defenses refusing to give up ground.  The Steelers holding the Browns and forcing turnovers, including a fumble recovery by Shaun Martin Jr. The Browns also refused to give any yards.  

On the final play of the game, with the Browns facing a 2nd and 15, Dajuan Banks sprung free and dashed for one last touchdown ending score Browns 33 Steelers 13.

Special recognition goes out to Henry O’Connor, Connor Ravenberg, Hunter Keena, Chuck Blanchard and Nick Zaleski who played tough..

Special recognition for the Steelers to out to, On offense: Dylan Swift, Drew Taylor and Kevin Kirklin. On defense: Jay McNamara, Xavier Burgos and Shaun Martin, Jr. 

The next meeting on October 28th has all the making of a great rivalry!

Macca Plumbing Cowboys 25 - Kenneth Namnoum Jets 0

Jack Kennedy scored four rushing touchdowns as the Cowboys downed the Jets 25-0 Sunday afternoon at Sterling Field.

The Cowboys will meet up against the Steelers next week, and the Jets will matchup against the Browns.

PEE WEE DIVISION

Walter Hussey Giants 44 – Deakin, Edwards & Clark Colts – 20

The Pee Wee Giants ran their record to a perfect 5-0 by defeating the Colts 44-20 Sunday afternoon at Sterling Field. Jeff LaRosa scored four touchdowns on runs of 10,12, 20, and 22 yards, and CJ Denson also scored for the Giants. Kam McKain capped the Giants scoring by returning a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown.

Extra points for the Giants were added by Otis Donaldson, Joe Hussey, Brian Namnoum, and Sky Dolce. The Colts scored on a fantastic run by Andrew Lagoy. Sean James also found the end zone two times on terrific runs for the Colts to keep the game close.

Standing out for the Giants were Franklin Robinson, Shaun McNamara, and Carlos Miguel Nunez.

Wealth Management Group of North America, LLC Titans 27 – JT Ghamo 49ers 7

The Titans leveraged a strong rushing attack by Matt Schwab, Cam Wilson, and Max Leyland to defeat the 49ers 27-7 Sunday afternoon at Sterling Field.

The Titans received strong contributing play from Will Fallon, Dominic Bavaro and Cameron Gregory - who even filled in at fullback and gained his first 6-yard run. 

Brewer Paving Packers 21 - Edward Connors Insurance Patriots 8

Under cloudy conditions and the threat of rain all afternoon, the friends and family who stuck it out on Field A at Sterling were treated to a hard fought game of football by two very determined teams. 

The Edward Connors Insurance Patriots started off the game on offense and found success early behind the running of Silas Bridges, KJ Shazel and a very determined offensive line.  After the Patriots converted several first downs the Brewer Paving Packers finally dug in and stopped the surging Patriots in the red zone, taking over the ball and momentum on downs.  With the Packers offensive line eager to show their power, a strong ground attack drove the ball down field behind the hard running of Nolan Tibball, Pearce Cannon, Carl Nicklas and Rowan Sierra. 

The Packers hit pay dirt with an explosive run by Nolan Tibball, who cut his way through the Patriots defense for a 20-yard score.  With a failed conversion attempt the Packers held a small 6-0 lead.

Defense soon set the tone with the Packers and Patriots both stopping each other on downs until midway into the second quarter after a defensive strip by Hugh Wells and fumble recovery by the hard hitting Jack McHale.  The Packers put together an impressive scoring drive highlighted by a dominant run by Tibball and a dynamic touchdown pass by Zack Cohen to Wells.  After connecting with Jack Ledwith on another pass for the 2-point conversion, the Packers took a positive 14-0 lead.  With slick conditions on field A the Packers and McHale were able to recover a Wells squib kick and continue their momentum.  Not to be outdone, the Patriots returned the favor by picking off a deep pass and taking over just before the end of the half. 

Led by an effective double wing attack, the Pats conserved quite a bit of time and marched down field behind the play of Jacob Torres, Daquan Shaw, Anthony Violante, Shazel, Bridges and others.  With only seconds to spare in the half, the Packers came together defensively and stopped the Patriots deep in the red zone.  Resilient defensive play by Myles Sierra, Larry Womack, Gabe Hernandez, Julian DeCampos, Wells, Devonte DeLeon, McHale and Tibball proved too strong in this key defensive stance.  These players would continue to stand out in the second half.

The second half saw the Packers offense move quickly behind their powerful offensive line.  R. Sierra and Cannon ripped strong runs on an impressive 8+ play drive with Cannon finding the end zone and Sierra converting the point after.  With players like Izzy Henriques, Nick Mascolo, Patrick Hemingway, Ean Tyler, Marcus Ramsey and Jon Gabinelle contributing to the cause, the Packers ground and pound game took a 21-0 lead into the fourth quarter.  In years past this might have been the end of the Patriots, but not this Sunday.  The Pats were definitely not done and their offense found its own and powered the ball downfield on their next possession.  With strong runs by their backfield and a pass to Carlos Kerrigan-Mock, the Patriots found themselves in the end zone after a commanding sweep by Bridges.  With an impressive 2-point conversion pass, the Patriots were on the board and playing well.  Both teams finished the fourth quarter with solid, disciplined play.  While the Packers took home the victory 21-8, both sidelines should be proud of their efforts and exemplary sportsmanship.

MIDGET DIVISION

Sinatro Agency One Wildcats 35 - West Hartford Rotary Club Raiders 0

Eastern Rehabilitation Network Chargers 43 - West Hartford Firefighters Association Eagles 28

Despite not having the running and defensive services of All Star AJ  Fair, due to illness,  the midget Chargers , now 4-1 , rolled over the midget Eagles  43 - 28 Sunday afternoon at Sterling field.

Chargers marched 60 yards after the opening kickoff to score on a 15 yd run by Spencer Merkel to take a 6 -0 lead.

On the 2nd play of the Eagles first possession, Christian Lund stripped the ball from the Eagle running back and raced 20 yards for the touchdown and the 12-0 lead.

The Chargers were driving for another touchdown but fumbled the ball over to the Eagles  who marched down the field  for their first touchdown cutting the Charger lead to  12 - 6.

On the ensuing kickoff, Spencer Merkel sprinted 60 yards around the left side for the touchdown making the score 18 - 6 Chargers.

Eagles took the kickoff and marched 60 yards for a touchdown to make the score 18 - 14 Chargers with twenty-five seconds left in the half.

Eagles kicked off deep again to Spencer Merkel and this time Spencer burst up the right side 65 yards for another touchdown as the second quarter ended, making the score 25 - 14 Chargers at half.

The Eagles scored on their first drive of the second half making the score  25 - 22 Chargers , but once again Eagles kicked deep to Spencer Merkel  who ran the kick off 60 yards up the middle for his  3rd kick return TD and 4th TD of the game making the score  Chargers 31 - Eagles 22.

Eagles  took the kickoff and marched down again scoring on a beautiful 30 yd pass to George Stoughton making the score  31 - 28  Chargers to end  the 3rd quarter.

Chargers took the kickoff  to start the 4th quarter and marched down the field scoring again with a 30 yard  QB sneak  by  Grant O'Connor on 3rd and 4 from the  Eagle 30 yard line  making the score  37 - 28  Chargers  with 7 minutes remaining in the game.

On the Eagles next possession, facing 4th and 14 from their 30 yard line, Spencer Merkel intercepted a  pass   returning it to the Eagles 25 yard line and QB Grant O'Connor sealed off the win with  another 25 yard QB sneak making the final score  43 - 28 Chargers.

It was a hard fought game by both teams with some great play by the offensive and defensive lines. The Chargers will take the field again next Sunday at 3 p.m for their rematch with the Wildcats.      

PONY DIVISION

West Hartford Police Association Eagles 26 -  Wiremold Legrand Chargers 16

Universal Connectivity Raiders 26 – Sinatro Agency One Wildcats 16

The Raiders were able to protect their undefeated season against a formidable opponent in the Wildcats in West Hartford Pony division football action this past Sunday.  Overcast skies and damp conditions prompted a ground attack by the Raiders resulting in the first score on a 10 yard run by Alex Haggerty.  Kevin Vaughan added the extra points with an end zone reception over the middle.  Haggerty continued on a tear with a second 40 yard dash to pay dirt.  The Wildcats responded with their power back, hard charging Jaeshawn Wilson scoring on a long touchdown run aided by key blocks.  Wilson added the point after with a reception in the corner ending the second half score at 14-8.

In the second half Haggerty resumed his scoring efforts with a long off-tackle jaunt, spinning his way to score number 3 but again the point after was thwarted by tough Wildcat defenders.  Wilson then responded in acrobatic fashion, hauling in a Michael Mathews pass off the helmet of a Raider defender and marching strongly onward for 6 and then adding the point after with another reception.  It was Haggerty again, having a career day who added another feather in his cap by reaching the end zone from 20 yards out.  Shortly after this,  Jonathon Lagoy, made a fantastic second effort run off tackle to the one yard line while leaving many defenders in his wake .  He then finished the job walking upright passed the goal line thus closing out the scoring for the day. 

The unsung heroes of the Raider defense remain the backbone of the team with great efforts by Jacob Ryor, Evan Duzan, Jacob Conran, Jordan Baker and Joseph Morrissey. In addition to Wilson and signal caller Mathews, the Wildcat standouts included Kyron Bridges and Marvin Prados who led defensive stands and standout Henry Fisher with all around gritty play.