Watchung Hils Pop Warner Team Girds for Another Title Game [VIDEO]

Watchung Hills Pop Warner Football Pee Wees Head Coach George Lazo watched the team line up for a practice scrimmage, Friday morning at the WHPWA's Rizzo Field.

"It's the biggest game of these kids' lives," he said quietly, just before quarterback Josh Hansen called a play and ran the ball in from 2-yards in a practice of the team's point-after play.

Though the WHPW Pee Wees won the state championship last year, only a few of this year's players were on the team. The Pee Wee division is limited to sixth- and seventh-graders, weighing up to 120 lbs., so it's primarily a new team.

"This team turned from being a 100 percent running team, to being about a 50 percent passing team," Offensive Line Coach Dan Merrie said. "It's really a big turn for the team."

That could make for an exciting game against Linden, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Rutgers Stadium—the coaches see Linden as a string opponent.

"They've got a very good passer—very accurrate," Defensive Coach Gary Gaglioti said. Consequently, the defense will work on limiting the field and keeping pressure on Linden's offense.

Gaglioti said his players work well together—a key in any football game—and that the players have really grown through the season.

"The bottom line is it's going to be a matter of execution," Assistant Head Coach Dan Allgor said. "If the kids do what we ask them to do, we should be fine."

The game starts about 9:30 a.m., but fans can encourage and cheer the team at a tail-gate party planned for before—and after—the game at the Scarlet Lot, off River Road.