Junior Red Takes Championship

Tewksbury Youth Football Recap Week Nine

Junior Division

5th & 6th Grade

Tewksbury Red takes the Northeast Junior High Football Championship capping an unbelievable 9-0 season! Congrats to the coaches and players!!

Tewksbury Red Pride 14 – Sanborn 0

The Tewksbury Junior Red Pride completed an undefeated season with a 14-0 victory over the Sanbon Little Indians capturing the Northeast Junior High Football League Junior Division Championship. While the Red Pride B squad fell 22-6 in the opening contest to the visitors. In their championship run the impressive Red Pride A team collected 202 points while defensively only allowing 18 total points during the 9-0 campaign. This defense forced 6 shutouts including letting up 0 points in the post season. This impressive group of young men relied on teamwork, sportsmanship, and strong execution from all 3 phases of football. This wet November morning was no different. After trading opportunities with Sanborn at midfield the Red Pride sideline erupted when Ethan Exilhomme took a hand-off and raced 40 yards to break the scoreless tie. The 2 point conversion was good when quarterback Mark Bradley evaded the Sanborn pressure and connected with Kyle Darrigo who bulled his way in to the end zone. The Red would strike again before half. Exilhomme continued his excellence earning his second touchdown of the morning by diving across the goal line eluding a would be tackler. Exilhomme finished the day with over 130 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. Defense certainly won this championship as they shut out the formidable Sanborn offensive attack. Spearheading several defense stands was the defensive line of Anthony Op, Gavin Thomasset, Steve Arsenault, Lucas Tryder and Cameron Cimmino. Making several key tackles for loss was cornerback and emotional leader Will McKay. Also shutting down any momentum building attempts was Kyle McHugh, Dan Fleming, Colin Bozek, Exilhomme and Bradley. Fittingly it was the defense that ended any chance for a Sanborn comeback when Thomasset recovered a fumble with less than 2 minutes in the contest allowing the Red Pride to take a knee from the victory formation and cap off the undefeated season and earn the 2014 NJHFL Junior Championship.

Tewksbury Red JV Pride 6 – Sanborn 22

The B squad, who advanced along with the A team, lost there contest with the Sanborn Indians 22-6. However, given needed position changes and players being reallocated to the A squad the B team lead by Brady Renn, Aiden Leffler, and Cole Kimtas showed much promise in this loss. Sustaining drives were made possible by a sold offensive line of Shamus Covel, Joe Delucia, Ben Svendsen, Aidan Leffler and Colin Fullerton. Making way for several impressive gains by Aidan Hartman, Pat Marley and Kimtas who had the Red’s lone touchdown. Defensively Renn ignited the crowd with an interception of a Sanborn pass early in the contest and Fullerton not only had a key fumble recovery but also had an impressive kickoff return deep into Little Indians territory.

Senior Division

7th & 8th Grade

Tewksbury Red Pride JV 8 - Souhegan 18

The Tewksbury Red Pride JV closed out a tremendous season on a sour note falling to Souhegan 18-8 on a very cold and blustery day. Tewksbury got off to a slow start all around as the offensive line could not contain the onslaught of defenders making the Tewksbury offense ineffective. Meanwhile, the defense was able to hold its own for the most part but uncharacteristically gave up two big plays for touchdowns. Tewksbury found itself down at the half 12-0. The second half started the same way with Souhegan hitting on another big play for a 18-0 lead. But then the real Tewksbury team showed up. The defense started to lay down the hammer with big plays for losses turned in by Rob Kimtis, Matt Brennan and James Mackenzie. On a fourth down play, Nicky Iannacci shot up from his safety position to make a textbook open field tackle on a wide receiver screen to blow up what looked to be another big play and turn the ball over on downs. Then the offense started to figure things out as the offensive line of Ryan Day, Santino Garofalo, Owen Gilligan, Ryan Keane, Mike Rosa and Kyle Scrooc started to give QB Nolan Timmons time to operate. The offense found its groove with its short passing game with slants to Aidan Doherty and Paul Manzi moving the ball downfield. Doherty ended the drive with a 8 yd TD reception and Tyler Keough added the 2 pt conversion on a nifty catch and run, pulling Tewksbury to within 10 points. The defense, with contributions from Dustan Bere, Jacob Bragg, Joe Branchaud, Ryan Briley, Anthony Diminico, Pat Fleming, Matt Houghton, Anthony Iannacci, Jake Kaiser, Evan Mantel, Rich Markwarth, Sean Oliveira, Sean Phaneuf, Matt Rosemond, Brodie Tirrell and Kenny Wilson, was able to get the ball right back to the offense. A long pass play to Shane Aylward brought the ball down to the redzone but the drive stalled there and the comeback attempt fell short. Despite the loss, the JV squad ended the year with an impressive 6-2 record.