New Milford Junior Football capped off a great year last Saturday with the Junior team (made up of fifth and sixth graders) winning the Meadowlands Football League's coveted Super Bowl title for the second year in a row with a dominating 13-0 win over Wallington's squad.
Entering the playoffs as the top seed from the Northern Division with a 7-1 regular season record, the Junior Knights battled both Elmwood Park and Wood-Ridge to get to the big game which was held at Riggins Field in East Rutherford. Having already defeated Wallington earlier in the season in a tough game that also saw New Milford secure the top seed and Northern Division title, the players and coaches entered the game confident but not cocky that they could repeat their previous success against a tough team. They in fact did with a hard-hitting game in the cold and wind that saw the Junior Knights dominate on both sides of the ball.
The defense held Wallington in check, with their seventh shutout of the season. Shane Morgan, Emmett McElroy, Brian Mackey, Tyler Picinic, Doug Korzelius, Christian Mastropierro, Brian Johnson, Alex Heinemann, Shane Prevot and Jay Alvarez led the charge of a talented Knights D as well as special team, blanking the Panthers and keeping them deep in their territory for almost the entire game.
On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Tommy Ryan Jr. kept the offense flowing behind a talented line. Running back Jay Alvarez connected with wing back Shane Prevot on an option pass for the first score of the game in the early first quarter. Alvarez then added another touchdown rushing down the Panthers sideline for the Knights second score.
Head Coach Jeff Ellis, along with assitant coaches Ed Prevot, Jeff Ellis Jr., Tim Haas, Dan Davis, Tom Ryan and Brian Johnson, couldn't be more proud of a Knights team that truly played as a team with extreme heart and character throughout a long season that began on August 1 with over 115 practices and scrimmages, and 11 games.
Congratulations to the 2012 Super Bowl Champion Junior Knights!
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