MAPLEWOOD - The Maplewood-South Orange Packers’ football teams overcame game-time heat of 90 degrees and 95 percent humidity while playing Washington Rock in Green Brook Sept. 14.

The day started with numerous scoring at the flag level, which turned into a defensive battle. The Tigers, made up 5-7-year-olds, had a great day with impressive passing and running display. Defensive standout Jonah Wright stopped three touchdown run attempts.

The Tomcats’ 8-9-year-old defense played well throughout the day, starting with the game’s opening drive. The Tomcats shut down the Rock offense at the outset and won, 14-0.

The Bobcats lost a highly-contested battle. It was an exciting game, which had several lead changes throughout the 32 minutes. The Bobcats, ages 9-10, continued to play tough despite hot and humid game conditions. With very few substitutes available, the players fought for four quarters, but came up short in the end, losing to the Rock.

Jimmy Martinez turned out another excellent effort on both sides of the ball, playing the entire game and scoring all the touchdowns for the Bobcats, ending the game with close to 200 yards rushing and 100 yards passing. He left it all on the field, scoring five touchdowns, only to have two called back. Curtis Moore turned in a strong effort on the defensive side of the ball.

Dustin Ramos caught a pass from Martinez late in the game and ran it down to the Washington Rock 5.

The Panthers’ first challenge of the season was to recruit 16 players so that they could play their first game. At the start of the game with Washington Rock, the 9-12-year-olds would start the minimum 16 players.

The young team settled down in the second half, keeping high-powered Washington Rock scoreless in the half. Tamir Harry recovered a fumble to stop a key drive. Quarteback Dion Roberts completed a 25-yard pass to Leonard Dupree for a key first down.

In addition, Roberts punted for an average of 32 yards. Leading rushers were Alfonso Finch, Tamiz Harry, Roberts and LJ Davidson. Joshua Taylor, DiMarco Lopez and Jack Crane led the team in tackles.

Other key contributors on defense were Darnell Grant and Zaakir Faith. Blocks made by Michael Carnevale, Garrett Grafton, Jacob Kohn and Jahrese Trigg got the offense started in the third and fourth quarters, but the Panthers lost.

The Wildcats won with a balanced attack, led by quarterback Emanuel Grant in what was an exciting, close and hard-fought game between two evenly-matched teams.

The Rock was marching down the field with two minutes to go when Rajhaun Smith ended the drive with a game-ending interception. Isiah Jennings scored for the Wildcats and Asad Braswell led the team in tackles.

The Packers return to action on Sunday when they play the Hunterdon Huskies, the defending Pop Warner national champions.

Packers Battle, Fall to National Champions Hunterdon Huskies, but tie NYC Football Power

The Packers played their first home game of the season in South Plainfield due to the construction at Underhill Field. The Maplewood South Orange Packers would like to thank the South Plainfield Eagles organization for being great neighbors and allowing the Packers to use their facilities and supporting Youth Football.

The 6 year olds "Red Tigers" flag football team remains undefeated. 3 and 0 after victories over Washington Rock and this Sunday over Hunterdon. The offense is lead by Quarterback Stan Dennis with running backs Zion Bethea and Ronny Hickman. Also, 7 year olds flag team won against the Huskies.

The Tomcats 8-9-year-old defense played well again for the third week. The Tomcats lost 14-0 and what was a very hard-hitting match.

The MSO Packers Panthers 9-12 showed improvement this week. Quarterback Deion Roberts led the team in rushing on offense and tackles on defense. Deion punted for an average of 38 yards. Jack Crane, Joshua Taylor, DiMarco Lopez, LJ Davidson, and Alonzo Finch had notable runs.

Zack Heinze and Jerome Burris played well on the offensive line during their first football game of the season. On defense Julian Gouin, Jahreise Triggs and Darnell Grant made key tackles late in the fourth quarter to stop Hunterdon drives. Alonzo Finch had a key sack early in the game. The Panthers played well, but lost 23-0.

The well known “Mo Better:” Jaguars of Brooklyn traveled in a bus to play the Maplewood South Orange Wild Cats. MO’ Better, which has won National Championships in the past and seen in documentaries, scored first but the Wilds Cats fought back to score. Emanuel Grant through a bomb to Jerrell Murray for one of the touchdowns in what was one of most exciting Pop Warner games of the day. This was the first ever game between the Packers and the New York City football power, Mo Better. Mo Better won the match.

The Cougars made up of 13, 14, and 15 year olds showed a strong rushing game against the Huskies lead by Markques Winstead, which had over 100 yards on the ground. Deion Hudson got a quarterback sack on defense and throws a 50 yard pass completion to Justin Harell. Zachary Matters scored on a kick return. The Cougars lost 8-14 on a very exciting game.

The MSO Packers returns to action on Sunday, September 28th when the play the Somerville Rams away.

Packers battle Rams, Wildcats

Published:

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 10:55 AM CDT

MAPLEWOOD - The Maplewood-South Orange Packers’ Pop Warner football teams had four teams - Tigers, Tomcats, Bobcats and Wildcats - play the Somerville Rams - and two teams - the Panthers and Cougars - play the West Windsor Wildcats on what could only be described as a “Mud” bowl.

The flag team Tigers, made up of 5-, 6-, and 7-year olds, won and played well in the mud.

The Mighty Mites, known as the Tomcats, lost to the Somerville in rainy and muddy conditions in Somerville, 22-13. While the Tomcats led for most of the game, the defense had two costly lapses late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Haraan Ransom scampered 50 yards for the first score. Next, speedy Kiambu Jones swept for a 55-yard touchdown. Da-vion Jackson capped off the extra point.

Simeon Wrignt and Jackson made some bone-crushing tackles. Other key contributors during a long offensive drive were Najeem Lytch, Brandon Mitchell, Alijah St. Vil, Jarrell Cooper, Aaron Henry and Jayson Boyd.

The Junior Pee Wee Bobcats relied on their running attack in the pouring rain to pull out a 27-13 victory over Somerville, a game that was deadlocked until deep into the fourth quarter. The Bobcats fell behind by a touchdown early but didn’t lose their composure. Running backs Curtis Moore and Elijah Wright led them back with several bruising runs on a sustained drive that chewed up both the muddy field and the clock. Moore capped the drive with a 20-yard run to the outside for his first touchdown of the season.

Wright, playing on his 12th birthday, celebrated in style when he broke away for a spectacular 40-yard touchdown run just before the end of the half to tie the game 13-13. That’s where the score stayed until six minutes left when quarterback Jimmy Martinez led the Bobcats on a dramatic drive that included long, breakaway runs by both Moore and Wright. It ended with Moore plowing up the middle from the 4-yard-line and thrusting the ball across the goal-line to put the Bobcats ahead for good.

A stout Bobcat defense, led by Wright, Zaire Bethea and Malcolm Henson, kept Somerville from scoring in the waning minutes, and defensive end Dustin Ramos recovered a fumble to end the Rams’ comeback drive.

The Bobcats tacked on a 2-yard touchdown run by Martinez with a minute left to seal the victory and improve their record to 1-2-1.

The Pee Wee team, the Panthers, drove more than an hour to play Eighties’ rival, the West Windsor Wildcats. The Panthers were standing toe-to-toe with the Wildcats, but gave up 13 points on two outside sweeps. The Panthers’ offense controlled the clock and had more than 300 yards of offense.

Quarterback Deion Roberts ran a kickoff down to the 20-yard line, lead the team in rushing and had a 45-yard punt.

Fullback LJ Davidson ran for 70 yards on 16 carries and caught a 25-yard pass from Roberts. In addition, tailback DiMarco Lopez had notable runs and made a key first down.

The Panthers made a first down after a fake punt and a 30-yard run by Roberts, and were about to score, changing the momentum of the game when a scary strike of lightning was seen in the sky. The Panthers will re-play the game at the end of the season, likely in a Friday Night Light’s rematch in November that will have a large crowd due to the exciting and well-played game last Sunday.

Garrett Grafton recovered a fumble to stop a Wildcat drive and Alonzo Finch had three quarterback sacks from his inside linebacker and nose guard position. Darnell Grant, Jerome Burris, and Michael Carnevale played a strong offensive line controlling the line of scrimmage.

The Wildcats, made up of 11-, 12- and 13-year-old players, won against the Somerville Rams. Jerell Murray scored on a 50-yard bomb from Emanuel Grant, who also defensively was all over the field. Chris Reed stripped a running back and ran the ball back for 50-yard touchdown and was a major spark on offense, defense and special teams.

The offense line, which was healthy this week, controlled the line of scrimmage made up of Brandon Elan, Maki Berry, Jules Heningburg, Marcus Nash and Eriq Royal.

Johnny Golden was the “X” factor, playing multiple positions on the field.

The Cougars, made up of 13- and 14-year-olds, won against a strong West Windsor team in a very exciting and hard-fought game.

The Packers’ next game will be away against the Bridgewater Panthers this Sunday.

Packers clash with Panthers

Published:

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 7:56 AM CDT

MAPLEWOOD - The Maplewood-South Orange Packers’ football teams gave strong efforts against the Bridgewater Panthers on Oct. 5.

The flag team, White Tigers (5-6-year-olds), started the day playing well, limiting the Panthers to one touchdown. Jonah Bieber led the Tiger defense to its first score when he pushed through the offensive line and took the ball from the Bridgewater quarterback running for a touchdown.

Jonah Wright, Aahri Settles and Asad Johnson all had multiple grabs. The offense came alive in the second half with some great runs, including Jack Walden, who ran a counter left for 30 yards through hostile territory for a score. Asad Johnson finished the scoring when he ran a quarterback sneak to the left and Wright followed Ibn Brown for a 15-yard score.

The 6-year-olds had another great day to remain undefeated. Zayon Marsh started with an opening touchdown followed by Stan Dennis, Zion Bethea, Ronnie Hickman and Nasir Cook. The defensive line held the Panthers to only two touchdowns, with outstanding efforts by Aiden Byrd, Jai Miller, Quincy Sabin, Ibn-Hussain Salaam and Jayvin Irby.

The 7-year-olds started their day with great offense by running the ball with great speed, led by Kamau Rowe and Niaa Afoty Adjoga-otu. Kyle Beckford scored a touchdown, followed by a 40-yard touchdown by Kieran Reynolds.

Michael Arias, Jordan Brice, Max Edwards, Rock Huebner, Omari Key, Nasir Stratford, Nick Waterson and Evan White led the defense.

The Tomcats, ages 8-9, saw speedy halfback Nazir Hatcher score on a 45-yard run that sealed a victory to upset the undefeated Panthers, 19-0.

The Bridgewater defense was pancaked by the Tomcats. The offensive line was made up of Jarrell Cooper, Nile Carcia, Cameron Herbert, Darius Plummer, Michael Siskind, Thane Wharton, Wali Thomas and Jayson Boyd.

The first score of the game was set up by a 45-yard run by Hunter Reynolds.

Brandon Robinson next scored on a quarterback sneak. Kiambu Jones scored the extra point by out-running the Bridewater defensive end and cornerback. Jones made another impressive 65-yard rush to the 10-yard line, setting up Hunter Reynolds’ score around end. The Tomcats’ blockers on the long run were Haraan Ransom, Avi Ramer, Alijah St. Vil, Zack Fryer and Brandon McCombs.

The Tomcat defense shut down the Bridgewater offense that had scored more touchdowns than anyone in the MVC conference.

Thaddeus Sabin stopped three Bridgewater drives with spectacular open-field tackles. Danny Boehmer, Simeon Wright, Sean Leach and Najeem Lytch led the team in tackles.

The Tomcats average 262.0 yards per game, and can’t wait to show local fans their high-powered offense on the new FieldTurf at Underhill Field at the end of the month.

The Panthers (ages 9-12) lost to the Panthers, 21-0. Quarterback Deion Roberts completed a 20-yard pass to Jacob Kohn. Jahreise Trigg made a heads-up play by not placing a hand on an onside kick, forcing a 15-yard penalty, and played a strong corner. The Packer defense played strong in the second half. Jack Crane was the “X-Factor,” leading the team in tackles and playing numerous positions on defense. Crane also started the game at center when the starting center couldn’t play due to the flu and stopped a formable Bridgewater bull rush. Joshua Taylor, Duane Boone and Alonzo Finch had notable tackles stopping Bridgewater drives.