Fairfield Giants Are National Champions

Fairfield Giants 10U crowned Division III Pop Warner National Champions with 21 -12 victory over Kansas City Titans this past weekend.

Video Clips
http://www.hudl.com/video/2/138638/5a1c53c30427b90f30997519

The Fairfield Giants left Connecticut on Friday am as State and Regional Champs, but came home late Saturday afternoon as National Champions of Pop Warner’s 10U Unlimited Weight Division, beating a previously unbeaten Titan team out of Kansas City, MO. The victory capped the teams perfect 12-0 season that began August 1st in the midsummer’s heat at Sullivan Field. “This is quite an accomplishment for a special group of young men. It goes to show you what commitment, hard work and discipline can accomplish when you are bound together with one mind, one heart and as one team” said coach Mark Cirilli.

The Giants opened up the scoring on their first drive with a 35 yard run by star running back, Luke Shannehan. “I just followed my blocks and saw a huge hole open … the big boys upfront Billy Mitchell, Braeden Aronson, Mason Frey, Charley Mahoney, Brooks Reynolds, Luca Fried and Andrew Taylor have been dominating the trenches all season long” said Shannehan to ESPN reporters after the game. They scored again in the beginning of the second quarter after QB Justin Toothaker hit second year player Luke Stasko on the run with a perfect pass to bring the ball down to the 1 yard line, where TJ Cirilli punched it in to put the Giants up 14 -0. “The gold unit’s pass blocking has been great all season … Tanner Sticco, Dylan Katz, Cole Westerlund, Angelo Boci, Ryan Tompkins, Bradley “Big Cat” Michaud, RJ Patrignelli, Will Donahue, Colm Watcke and Ben Zuckerman have done a unbelievable job this year” said offensive line coach Mike Mitchell.

The Kansas City Titans didn’t go without a fight, they broke back into the game with two long touchdown runs off of misdirection plays late in the second quarter that brought the score to 14-13 at half time. “Our kids have faced a number of tests this year … overtime wins, come from behind victories with 2 mins to go, even playing in a nor’easter …. and they have passed every one of them. They are a tough, strong-willed, driven group that doesn’t give up” said coach Rob Manning. The Giants came out strong with a 70 yard, 16 play opening drive to start the second half. QB Matt McManus hit TJ Cirilli and Finbar Malloy on two key third down pass plays to keep the drive alive. With Heisman hopeful Malloy, who led the Giants in touchdowns and rushing yards this year, punching it in from 6 yards out behind a tremendous block by Braeden Aronson to put the Giants up 21-12.

The Giants defensive unit, led by great defensive line play by Angelo Boci, Ryan Tompkins, Billy Mitchell, RJ Patrignelli, Luca Fried, Luke Sardinha, Brooks Reynolds and co-captain, Mason Frey, didn’t let up a first down in the second half. Linebackers Becket Hallma, Finbar Malloy, Cole Westerlund, TJ Cirilli and co-captain, Charlie Mahoney proved to be too much for the Titan running game. When the Titans took to the air, shutdown corners Robbie Manning, Matt Kleinman, Luke Shannehan and safeties Andrew Taylor and Justin Toothaker made them pay with two big interceptions.

On the year, the Giants recorded six shutouts and averaged 21 pts a game with 11 different players scoring touchdowns or extra points. “Each and every player and coach on this team contributed in meaningful ways to the tremendous success of this season … we are all very proud of our guys! But it couldn’t have happened without the leadership of Fairfield Pop Warner and the hard work of Mollie Melbourne and all of the other family volunteers each week. We want to personally thank everyone for the tremendous support we received throughout the season!” said team mom Lisa Cirilli.