Div. 1 Mites Head to Super Bowl to Defend Title

On the heeels of a convincing, 26-0 playoff win against Marshfield in Rockland last Saturday night in the Old Colony Youth Football League Division 1 Mites playoffs, the defending Silver Bullets D1 Mites are making a return trip to the Super Bowl.

      Once again the defense was relentless.

      Cornerback Colby Blaze has elevated his game to essentially cut off the strong side of the field. Blaze had three tackles in the backfield for loss of yards. Gabe Destefano and Eric Rogerzinski spent time at cornerback and contained the outside as well. The interior defense controlled the line of scrimmage all day with middle linebacker Jake Kipnes coming up with another sack in the backfield.

      The outside linebackers Tedaro France and Tyler Kennedy and safety Manny Perry bring speed to the defense and are punishing on their hits. Defensive Ends Bryan Hardy and Seamus Murray controlled their spots and forced the game up the gut of the Bullets Defense. There was nowhere to go with Andrew Ellis, Mark Lambert and Ryan Litchman overpowering the offensive line of Marshfield. The defense along with the second unit defense pitched another shutout in this playoff game and head to the Superbowl ready to defend the title.

      The offense was equally as dominant. Manny Perry ran for two long touchdown runs, one a highlight reel consisting of dropping his shoulder, cutting on a dime and outrunning the defense. France had the longest run of the day with a 70-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Andrew Fallacci was a true leader on offense handling the general's position with precision and even gaining a few yards of his own on a broken play up the middle. As always the unheralded offensive line of Andrew Ellis, Mike Dombrowski, Stephen Zeglin, Mark Lambert, Jonathan Eldredge, Ryan Litchman, Seamus Murray and Tyler Kennedy controlled the line of scrimmage, opening the holes and protecting the quarterback. This unit has come a long way and is poised to put points on the board in the Superbowl.

      As has been the case most of the season, the Red Two Offensive and Defensive Units handled the second half of the game and where dominant as well. Quarterback Eric Rogerzinski scored his third touchdown of the season and were it not for a phantom flag Kelsey Mediros would have had his third as well. "Little Fridge" Sayers was dominant from the nose tackle, Connor Fries had a sack from tackle, Timmy Rodrigues and Pedro Almeida controlled the corners and the Red Two Unit held the shutout.

      It has been a long season. The Division One Mites had the challenge of defending a Superbowl Title of a team that won all but one game last year. These 9 and 10 year olds stepped up to that challenge and have produced an undefeated season leading to a Superbowl berth this weekend. They have improved, made adjustments and created a true "team" along the way.