Pop Warner C Team Cruises to 3-0 on the Season

WILMINGTON — After a rocky start, the Wilmington Wildcats came on strong to defeat Watertown-Belmont 26-0 on Sunday. The defense, which has not been scored upon this season, was led by outstanding defensive line play.

Defensive tackle Kyle Kenyon (6 tackles, 3 tackles-for-loss and a sack) as well as defensive ends Frankie Irizarry (3 tackles, 1 tackle-for-loss, 2 sacks), and Andrew Brandenburg (2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble) were solid for the Wildcats.

Wilmington won the coin toss and elected to receive. After fumbling the kickoff, Watertown took possession and they were able to move the football but not score.  The Wildcat offense took the field and quarterback Andrew Sullivan led the team on a 10 play, 54 yard drive that ended with an interception, but managed to get good field position for the Wildcats. This is when the Wildcats broke the game open in the blink of an eye.

Wilmington took the ball on the 15 yard line and after a five yard off sides penalty, running back John Kenney (5 carries, 74 yards, 2 touchdowns) scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 10 yard run.  Wide receiver Ryan “RB Smooth” Brewer and bruising fullback Kyle Penney (7 carries, 58 yards rushing) each made a key block on the play to spring Kenney on his way to the end zone.

After the Wilmington defense held on Watertown’s next possession, the Wildcat offense returned to the field and Kenney scored on the first play of the drive, a 46 yard touchdown run. Once again, blocks by Brewer as well as left tackle Tommy Strow and left guard Blake Hiltz were instrumental and setting up the scoring run.

The defense took the field and again held Watertown in check. Linebackers Joey Dumoulin (4 tackles. 1 sack, 1 tackle-for-loss), Braden Hiltz (3 ½ tackles) and Blake Hiltz (5 ½ tackles) chased down Watertown running backs for minimal gains.

On their next possession, the Wilmington offense ran a pass play sending all three receivers on go routes and Sullivan (2 completions, 35 yards passing) hit slot back Justin Fraser in stride for a 30 yard completion. Fraser was tackled on the 1 yard line and Sullivan ran the quarterback sneak on the next play to score and give the Wildcats a 20-0 lead. The Wildcats came close to scoring again at the end of the first half when Fraser took the reverse and ran 32 yards before being tackled.  The Wildcat offense simply ran out of time and went into the half with a 20-0 lead.

Wilmington came out in the second half and after a turnover on their first possession of the half, scored on their second possession when Braden Hiltz (4 carries, 50 yards rushing, 1 touchdown), scored on a 12 yard run.  Starting safety Timmy Rivers came in to play quarterback in the second half and led the team on the touchdown drive. The offensive line, led by Pat McAndrew, Mark Companeschi, Colin Rooney, Nolan Fitzgerald, Kenyon, Hiltz and Strow were solid all day as the Wildcats amassed 207 yards rushing, 35 yards passing, for a total of 242 yards of offense.  The Wildcats led 26-0 at the end of the third quarter.

Watertown tried desperately to move the ball in the fourth quarter but defensive linemen Peter Marino (1 ½ tackles, 1 tackle for loss), Brett Chisholm and Michael Smolinsky were solid for the Wildcats. Watertown tried passing the ball but corners Mikey Daley and Michael Ducharme (1 tackles, 1 sack) blanketed the Watertown receivers.

The Wildcat defense was dominant all day. The team combined for seven quarterback sacks, a forced fumble and 13 tackles-for-loss.  The defense has yet to give up a point this season as the Wildcats have outscored their opponents 72-0 through three games this season.

Offensively, the Wildcats have been solid on the ground all season. Through three games, the team has amassed 554 rushing yards on 67 carries for an astounding 8.3 yards-per-carry.  John Kenney leads all rushers with 27 carries for 272 yards and four touchdowns. 

The Wildcats will be in action in Woburn next Sunday against their arch-rivals.  The game will be played at Woburn High School and kick-off is at 11:00 AM.