Watchung Hills Flag Football Takes On Flemington to Start New Season

The opening weekend for Watchung Hills' Pop Warner League flag football teams was anything but dull.

In the Junior Flag division, the Watchung Hills Wolverines took on the Falcons of Flemington in the Sunday season opener.  The Wolverines got off to a rough start giving up three touchdowns in the first half.  However, the defense came alive in the second half holding the Falcons to only one score.  The Wolverines defense was led by Brayden Kelly who pulled seven flags, while Aidan Grochowski and Michael DiNardi each grabbed three. K.J. West finished the day with one flag.

The Wolverines offense was firing on all cylinders as it reached the end zone five times and rushed for 245 yards.  Aidan Grochowski led the offense with 60 yards rushing on 4 carries.  Aidan took the last play of the first half 40 yards for a touchdown behind the blocking of Jack Martin, Max Yaeger, Lucas Garcia and Stephen Prisco.  Brayden Kelly finished the day with 45 yards rushing on 3 carries and a touchdown.  Michael DiNardi had a 15-yard touchdown run and finished with 40 yards rushing.  Kevin Butler broke free on an end around for a 15-yard touchdown run, and Charlie Betzner scored on a 25-yard run leading the Falcons defenders all over the field.  Three of the touchdowns were set up by 20-
yard runs from Mason Kelly, Kyle Ling and Max Yaeger.

In the Senior Flag grouping, the Wolverines kicked off the season on a strong note.  The stingy defense allowed the Falcon offense only two scores throughout the day.  Ryan Johnson was a fixture in the Falcons backfield as he led the defense with seven flags.  Jack Clintock and Chase Miller each grabbed three flags while Jayden Fernandez pulled two.  Kyle Checchio finished the day with one flag.

The Wolverines offense racked up 215 yards rushing and three scores.  After being shut out in the first half, Ryan Johnson got the Wolverines on the board after he sprinted 40 yards up the sideline on the first play of the second half. Kyle Checchio took the next play 40 yards on a quarterback sweep for the Wolverines' second score.  Gerald Tobia scored the Wolverines third touchdown on an end around sprinting 40 yards into the end zone.  Chase Miller, Jackson Acosta and the Morreale brothers, William and Charlie, made huge blocks which gave the ball carriers the space they needed to put the ball into the end zone.  David Dubas and Jayden Fernandez each finished the day with 20 yards rushing while 
Byron McCann rushed for 10 yards on two carries.