Brookfield Midgets Make Pop Warner Nationals for 2nd Year Straight

The Brookfield Bobcat Midget team (13-0) defeated Mt. Washington Valley, N.H. (10-2) by a score of 30-0 to capture the 2011 New England Pop Warner Regional Championship. The win advances the Bobcats to the National Championship in Orlando, Fla. at the Walt Disney World Wide World of Sports/ESPN Sports Complex. 

The Bobcats received the opening kickoff and proceeded to march 76 yards on 11 plays culminating with an Austin Reich (14 carries for 94 yards) 4-yard Touchdown run. Nick Seis added the extra point to put the Bobcats up 8-0.  Brookfield's Peter Manesis then recovered the ensuing onside kick to give the Bobcats the ball back at midfield. Bobby Drysdale (15 carries for 136 yards) scored eight plays later from 5 yards out to make it 16-0 as Seis added the extra point.  

After a quick three-and-out by the Mt. Washington offense, Brookfield's Drysdale scored again from 8 yards out to make it 24-0, as Seis converted again on the extra point, midway through the second quarter. Brookfield's defense held Mt. Washington again to a three-and-out, forcing them to punt and give the Bobcats back the ball at their own 45 yard line.  From there, the Bobcats marched right down the field as Reich hit Seis on a 5-yard touchdown pass to build the 30-0 halftime lead.

With the "mercy" rule put in effect, the second half was played with a running clock. The Brookfield defense continued its fine play in the second half as it did not allow the Mountaineers to cross midfield throughout the entire game.  

The team will now advance to the National Championship game in Florida to take on the winner of the Chicago, Ill. Jokers and St. Louis, Mo. Flames. The National Championship game will take place on Thursday, December 8.  

The team will come right back on December 10 and represent the United States of America to take on Team Canada in an international contest at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. 

The team is currently in the process of fundraising for their trip and will be hosting a Pasta Dinner on Monday, December 5 at Whisconier Middle School (WMS) in Brookfield from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The team will also be accepting tax-deductible donations which can be made out to BFYF and mailed to Kristen Joshi, 80 Long Meadow Hill Road, Brookfield CT 06804 or via the Paypal button at their website. 

You can follow their journey to FL at http://www.eteamz.com/bfyf.