Ridge and Bridgewater Peewee teams Fall to Junior Warriors

Watchung Hills Junior Warriors Peewee Silver 18 – Ridge Silver 6

(submitted by Phil Keenan)

The Watchung Hills Junior Warriors Peewee Silver team improved to 3 and 0 this past Saturday (Sept. 22^nd), defeating Ridge Peewee Silver by a score of 18 to 6.

The Warrior’s offense was highlighted by Jaiden Stowers, who logged two touchdown runs. Blocking up front was led by Evan Geprags and Jeffrey Meslow.  The Watchung Hills defense was led by Jared Gardner, who had an interception return for a touchdown and added 10 tackles. He was assisted by Stowers who had multiple tackles and Geprags who also had both an interception and a fumble recovery. Additionally, Willie Vick III and Joel Samayoa had strong defensive performances along with Ryan Sarti who recorded a fumble recovery .

This Saturday, Silver, who currently boasts the #1 offense in the league, will face their Junior Warrior brothers - the Peewee Blue team - who are also coming off a victory over Ridge PeeWee red and are ranked #1 in defense (featuring 4^th grade players Jack Murray, Liam Hogan and Zach Medina).  This should be interesting; the game will be held at 10am at the Greenbrook field. come down and cheer on the boys – Watchung Hills is guaranteed to win!

Watchung Hills Junior Warriors Peewee Red 31 – Bridgewater Red 7

(submitted by Chad Harter)

Watchung won the toss, deferred to the second half.

Bwater took the field and went three and out punting to the Jr Warrior’s potent offense. The Jr. Warriors, however, stalled on their first drive as well. After an incomplete screen pass intended for Preston Gully fell short, and a scramble-and-run for 7 yards by Jake Harter.  On third down, the Warriors were called for an illegal formation (not enough men on the line of scrimmage) which nullified a beautiful 25 yard throw and catch from Jake Harter to Trevor Bokach. The Panther defense got great penetration on the following play and stopped the Warriors – forcing them to punt.

Again, it would be three and out for the Panthers and they too would be forced to punt away. This time the Warriors would not be denied. The first play from scrimmage went up the middle to Jake Harter at FB for 15 yards. After an incomplete pass attempt by Trevor Bokach that was intended for Nick Monty, Jake Harter rumbled 50 yards for the first score of the day. The XP attempt failed as a result of an offensive pass interference call on the Warriors. 6-0.

The Panthers offense was stalled again on their next drive when OLB Jake Harter picked off a Panther pass at the 45 and returned it 25 yards. On the ensuing play, with Harter back in the QB spot, he connected with Nick Monty on a out route for a 15 yard TD. Again the XP failed.

Twice again, Panther drives were stopped by the effective Warrior defense, while the Warriors offense was just getting started. On his first carry of the season and on the first play of a Warrior drive Cameron Collins scampered 60 yards for a Warrior TD. The XP failed after a pass from Nick Marino to Jake Harter was ruled just short of the goal line.

The Warriors next possession was not as quick but was just as fruitful. After big runs of 20 and 15 yards by Tyler Frankel and Christian Gonzalez, and a 20 yard catch and run from Nick Marino to Jake Harter, Cameron Collins found the end zone again with only seconds to spare for his second score of the game! Collins ended the game with 3 rushes for 72 yards.

The second half started with a Warriors backfield consisting of QB Finn DiGiacomo, HB Vincent Rizzi, HB Brian Hayward and FB Joseph Merklinger. With help from some stellar blocking by the Warriors O-line, they put together an unbelievable 17 play drive that covered 65 yards and ate up the lion’s share of the second half. That drive culminated in a 1 yard TD run by Joseph Merklinger and a successful XP attempt by Brian Hayward. The Warriors were rolling 31-0 but the Panthers were poised to answer back and did so successfully on their next and last drive of the game – when the dust settled, the final score was 31-7, Warriors.

The Warriors relied on 12 players through the course of the game to run or throw the ball – amassing over 300 yards of offense. Leading rushers for the game were Cameron Collins (3 carries for 72 yards and 2 td’s) and Jake Harter (3 carries for 72, 1 TD and 1-2 passing for 1 TD). Harter has now thrown 4 TD passes on the season to three different receivers. Nick Monty recorded his 3^rd TD in two games as he appears to be gaining steam. Backup QB Nick Marino was 2 for 2 passing for 23 yards and a scramble for 2 yards. The defense was again led by Trevor Bokach, with plenty of help from the rest of the Warriors as no single player had double digit tackles this week. Gabe Snead and Brian Hayward recorded a sack and Jake Harter recorded the first Warrior INT of the season.

The Jr Warriors will be facing off against the North Hunterdon Jr Lions on Saturday at 10am in Greenbrook. Come down and support the explosive Jr Warrior Pee Wee Red team!

Additional Junior Warrior games from Saturday 9/22/12:

- Junior Warriors JV 6 – Phillipsburg JV 0

- Junior Warriors Biddy Red 12 – Bridgewater Red 7

- Junior Warriors Midget Red 31 – Phillipsburg Red 6

As always, if you are a Junior Warriors’ fan, please support the teams by attending games and by joining the Facebook group at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/383192278368863/