Patriots battle each other in final

Thursday, November 26, 2009

The Amherst Patriots had two teams in the New Hampshire Pop Warner Junior Pee Wee Championship game. Both teams entered with a 9-0 record and it was the Junior Pee Wee Red team that pulled out the win. Brendan Cray led the Junior Pee Wee Red team to victory with three touchdowns, including a 65-yard kickoff return on the first play. Giovanni Lazzari contributed two touchdown runs as well. Defensively, some late sacks by Nick Zell and Max Van Lokeren sealed the win.

Pee Wees win

The Amherst Patriots Pee Wee football team won the state championship by defeated the Bedford Junior Bulldogs Silver team, 13-12. The first quarter consisted of a series of turnovers on downs. A fumble recovery by Wils Ezequelle and the strong defense of Chris Conley, Luuc Grondstra, Trevor Barrett, Alex Hill and Zach Bossi left the first quarter scoreless. The Patriots’ Alex Hill finally punched it in in the second quarter, and the extra point scored by Cam Kinney to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead. The Patriots touchdown was quickly answered by a Bulldogs touchdown and a failed conversion leaving the half with a score of 7-6.

The second half began with Bedford’s failed attempt at an onside kick that was recovered by the Patriots. The ball was quickly turned over on downs and Bedford answered with a 40-yard run and another failed conversion. Bedford held a 12-7 lead at the end of the third quarter.

After regaining the ball in the fourth quarter, Bedford attempted to run out the clock but was met with strong defense and another fumble recovery by Ezequelle, giving the Patriots a final opportunity to score with five minutes on the clock.

Crucial first downs were gained with the help of Kinney, Barrett, Bossi, Thomas Bennett and Tim Hinrichs, giving Hill the opening for another touchdown. The Patriots led 13-12 with a minute and a half on the clock, and the defense stayed strong, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Peter Bertone.