Naperville Pee Wee team defending national title
The Pee Wee Naperville Patriots were national champions a year ago.
This week they return to Florida to defend their title.
The Patriots' Pee Wee Red - along with the Junior Midget and Mighty Mite teams - will compete in the American Youth Football National Championships in Kissimmee, Fla. Play begins Saturday and runs through Dec. 13.
Members of both the Pee Wee and Junior Midget teams played for last year's Division I Pee Wee champions. Doug DiFusco, who coached last year's championship team, is coaching both clubs this season.
"It's been hectic," DiFusco said, "but it has been a lot of fun."
The Pee Wee Red team defeated the Patriots' Pee Wee Blue team 32-0 in the championship game of the Midwest Regional on Nov. 22. The Pee Wee Red's defense was dominant, not allowing a first down until the fourth quarter.
"This is the type of team, you put them in the gate and it knows it has someone pushing them, it plays exceptionally well," DiFusco said. "In big spots it plays its best games."
Nolan Dean ran for two touchdowns for the Patriots. Mike Dudek, Latrell Matthews and Doug DiFusco also had strong runs and Dillon Gross threw the ball well.
"The championship game was our best all-around effort of the season," DiFusco said. "We can score on the ground or through the air with this team. Opponents have to pick their poison."
DiFusco expects to get tough competition from the Manassas Mutiny out of the Virginia Region, last year's Division II Pee Wee champions. The Chandler Rattlers from Arizona are another team to watch.
"Last year's team was pretty young," DiFusco said. "This year we're more experienced, pretty well intact. They're excited to get off the plane to defend their championship."
Members of the Patriots Pee Wee Red team are Nolan Dean, Timmie Spencer, Mike Dudek, Eric McClellan, Dillon Gross, John Fowler, Nicholas Moscato, Daniel Dolehide, Doug DiFusco, Marcus Keith, Latrell Starks, Reginald Johnson, Juilian Huff, Carlos Redmond, Peyton Mitchell, Jacob Huff, Prentiss Nixon, Robert McMillen, Scott Schimanski, Brendan O'Brien and Brandon Mills.
The Junior Midget team, also 12-0, defeated the Park Ridge Falcons 14-6 in the Midwest Regional championship. Park Ridge scored first in the game, but Naperville came back with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Andrew to DeSean Brown. Ryan Mulhern's post-touchdown kick, worth two points at this level, gave the team an 8-6 lead. In the third quarter, an 8-yard run by Dan Dudek set up a 57-yard scoring strike from Andrew to Austin Guido.
Leading a strong defensive effort were linebackers Connor Swier, Christian Cunningham, Dudek and Guido and linemen Ryan Brown, Mike Casas, Lasalle Smith and Brown. A Ryan Burke interception thwarted Park Ridge's last scoring threat.
"They had a couple closer games," DiFusco said, "but this is a team that is all business. They've been focused from the beginning of the year."
The Junior Midget Patriots could be on a collision course at nationals with the Chandler Blitz, the team Naperville beat for the AYF national championship last year.
"They very candidly said that they wanted another shot at us," DiFusco said. "We are very much looking forward to that opportunity."
Members of the Junior Midgets are Jack Euritt, Ryan Brown, Dylan Andrew, Austin Guido, Jaden Huff, Mike Casas, Corey Wright, Colin Mondi, Jimmy Shunk, Ryan Mulhern, Dan Dudek, Ryan Casen, DeSean Brown, John Burke, Christian Cunningham, Clayton Rosinski, Connor Swier, Keon Dantzler and LaSalle Smith.
The Patriots Mighty Mites team, also undefeated, beat the Cleveland Cowboys 13-6 in the Midwest Regional championship in Cleveland. Naperville won its first playoff game in dramatic fashion, with Jacob Keller throwing a touchdown pass to Mitch West on the last play of a 12-6 win over Mt. Airy, Ohio. In 15 games this season the Patriots outscored opponents 420-37.
"I knew I had a special team when nobody complained about our hard practices during the summer," Mighty Mites coach John Gaca said. "This was truly a special team and season."