SPW Dodgers Nobly Finish Season In Loss To Lenape

Madisons’ Super Pee Wee Dodgers walked onto their MRC field Saturday morning for the last time this season, riding a three game winning streak and intent on capping it with four against a tough Lenape Valley team. The standing room only crowd knew by the impressive record the Patriots had that it would be an uphill battle for our Dodgers, but Coach Peter Mazzocchi knew his players were up for the challenge, using words like pride, teamwork, effort and honor in his pregame pep talk. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough as the Dodgers came up short in a well-fought battle, losing 25-0, but not without gaining the respect from the hometown crowd for a memorable season.

Madisons’ first possession had carries by Anthony Contessa, Gabe Artiglere and Scotty Spelker for minimal gains and turned it over on downs to Lenape. The Patriots struggled early too, following hard hit tackles by Elliot Dressler, Justin Slabaugh and Nick McKenna, and fumbled it back to Madison. The Dodger offense again had little gain despite fine efforts by QB Robert Ferris and Ben Colao, and once again Lenape took possession, this time scoring their first TD on an end sweep. The point after was good and it was 7-0 in the first. Madisons’ next drive stalled on the 44 yard line, and Lenape capitalized with their second score, point after missing, making it 13-0. Again Madisons’ offense couldn’t get the jump start they needed behind some great blocking by Mayson Messuti, Tommy Packie, Will Baisch, Skyler Pastro andMichael Keller, and turned it over on downs with a few minutes left in the half. Lenape used the clock wisely and forged down field, scoring once again just before the half ended, going to the locker room with a comfortable 19-0 lead.

Madison definitely showed signs of improvement after kicking off to Lenape to start the second, and after encouraging tackles by Gio Collins, Joey DeMarzo, Nate McKenna and Ronan McGinn, Madison took control and moved the ball well. That drive got Madison into the redzone for the first time today, but a fourth down run left them short of the first, sending the defense back out. Jackson Conroy filled in for injured Jared Barnes and wasn’t allowing anyone past him at linebacker, and the defense held. The fight for field position continued as each team plodded up and down, with Lenape the eventual victor with their final drive culminating in a TD. Their pass attempt for the extra point was called back for holding, so with the added yards the Patriots couldn’t get through the defense and ended up winning the game by a score of 25-0.

Coach Peter Mazzocchi said afterwards “ I am proud of these boys and the season they had. They never quit and always showed the teamwork and sportsmanship we try to teach them throughout the season, so they’re all winners to us.” The Super Pee Wee Dodgers finished at 3-4-2.