Watchung Hills Wolverines Pee Wee Champs

The Watchung Hills Pop Warner Pee Wee (11-14 age group) football Wolverines traveled to Rutgers Stadium Sunday morning to play Linden in the Garden State championship game. Led by a smothering defense that limited Linden to less than 50 total yards, the Wolverines won 20-0.

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Linden (8-3)

0

0

0

0

0

Watchung Hills (9-2)

14

6

0

0

20

IN SHORT

William Schelling took the opening kickoff for the Wolverines inside the linden 25-yard line and a couple of plays later scored from a couple of yards out and the Wolverines never looked back.  

On the ensuing kickoff, Jonathan Taub recovered the squib kick and the Wolverine offense was back in business. Nicholas Ugarte caught a pass from Joshua Hansen and went down the right sideline for the Wolverines second score. 

“I’m speechless,” the 13-year-old Ugarte said after the game.

Brendan Cook completed the scoring for the Wolverines.

As good as the offense was the Wolverine defense was even better, not only shutting out Linden but holding them to less than 50-net yards. The defense is coached by Gary Gaglioti.

“Based on their formation and down and distance, I knew what to call. Today, we really played great out there,” Gaglioti said.

Asked if he expected the defense to play as well as they did, Matthew Roth replied, “We thought we could play the way we did. I was nervous before the game but after the kickoff I knew we could win.”

COACHES TAKE

“Both the offensive and defensive lines stepped up their game today and had their best game of the year.”—Head coach George Lazo

THEY SAID IT

“Today was an unbelievable experience,” said William Schelling, who is in his fifth year playing for the Wolverines. “Everyone played great today. The whole team fought to the last man.”

This article was edited to correct name misspellings and identifications.