Sports

Watchung Hills Wolverine Jr. Midgets Win State Championship

Team next faces New York state champions this Saturday.

Information and photo courtesy of Jason Taub

The Watchung Hills Wolverine Jr. Midgets won the team's 11th straight game last Sunday by defeating Trenton with a score of 24 to 13, a win that clinched them the New Jersey State Championship in their division for Pop Warner football. 

This Saturday, the Wolverines take on the Bergen County Stars, the New York state Champions, on their path to an eastern region championship and a trip to the National Championship in Disney World, Florida. 

The game on Saturday is at Sabella Park in North Brunswick. If they win, the Wolverines next face the winner of a match between the Maryland and Pennsylvania state champions.

Game time is 4 p.m.

The offense took command quickly in Sunday's game against Trenton, and the Wolverines scored their first TD on the opening drive of 62 yards when Tommy Schelling plunged into the end zone behind a great block from Tyler James.

Chris Clintock made the kick to take an 8-0 lead. The defense held stingy, with Jonathan Taub, Caleb Parker, Matt Roth, and Schelling recording sacks.

Gary Gaglioti and Ryan Pedrani made big hits in the middle of the field and the Wolverines carried their 8-0 lead into the second half.

After shutting down the explosive Trenton offense, the Wolverines marched down the field again and Schelling scampered across the goal line for the second score behind a huge block from Ben Allgor. Clintock added the kick.

Trenton's quarterback connected with a receiver down field and set the team up for their first score of the day. The Wolverines still were leading 16-6 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

The offense suffered a couple penalties and turned the ball over on downs but the defense stood strong. Roth intercepted a pass and ran 35 yards to the Trenton 6-yard line, setting up the Wolverines for their final score of the game. Chase Jones ran hard over tackle for the last Wolverine touchdown and Clintock added the kick.

Trenton put another score on the board with less than a minute to play, but the Wolverines had already won the game.




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