Brick Dragons Pee Wees headed to regionals
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer
Quarterback Joe Phillips scored on a one-yard plunge and Kyle Wojtaszek tacked on the deciding conversion run as the Brick Dragons Pee Wees won the Pop Warner Jersey Shore championship, 7- 6, over Jackson.

"These kids had so many tests against good teams and dealing with the adversity and challenges, they really pulled together against the pressure in a very evenly played game," Pee Wee coach Tom Holland said.H

is unbeaten squad allowed points in only one other game this season, when they beat Jackson, 14-12, three weeks ago.

The Pee Wees play in the Pop Warner Atlantic Regionals at 3 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Marlboro Pop Warner complex against the Bucks County, Pa., champion.

The Dragons' Junior Midgets lost to the Toms River Indians, 38-6, and the Junior Pee Wee White team lost to Wall, 18-7, in other playoff championship games.

Phillips, who earned Holland's praise for the way he ran the team and ran with the ball, scored his touchdown on the next play after running 60 yards and getting tackled at the one-yard line. Wojtaszek got into the end zone off right tackle. The Dragons Pee Wees also had the ball on Jackson's fiveyard line as the first half ended.

Jackson, a prolific passing team, scored on a 40-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. But the team's two-point conversion kick attempt was blocked as Wojtaszek, James Juliano and Nick Tartaglione were in on the play.

Jackson also advanced to the Brick Dragons' 15-yard line in the fourth quarter, but Tom Costanza ended the threat with an interception on the 4-yard line. The Dragons could not advance the ball and punted as Jackson had one final bid at the Dragons' 45-yard line when the Dragons defense stiffened.

Much of this Dragons group, as Junior Pee Wees, did not allow a touchdown last season during the league schedule.

Holland praised Alex Trapasso at center and Mike Begovich on defense.

As for the Junior Midgets, they played to a 6-6 tie in the second Aquarter on BrianMatthews' 50-yard run with a fumble before the Toms River Indians closed out the half with a pair of touchdowns en route to their victory.

"They did what we expected. They have a good running back in Joe Fields, who was a little too much for us," coach Al Russo said.

Russo also noted the efforts of Ray Fattaruso at running back/linebacker and Brian Matthews and Savior King at linebacker and Tom Leech at quarterback.

The Junior Midgets play Carteret in the Garden State Games at Somerville High School Field at 1 p.m. Nov. 15.