Post by doc on Feb 5, 2010 11:28:16 GMT -5
Doug & Don -- wishes for success -- what a great experience for those area kids !
checking VS cable channel for possible coverage - will post if it shows up
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www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/sports/2030891,6_2_NA05_YOUTH_S1-100205.article
Patriots on national stage again
Junior Midget Red team faces Deion Sanders' squad in Miami
Comments
February 5, 2010
By ROB WOLLENZIEN For Sun-Times Media
While much of the nation eagerly awaits Sunday's Super Bowl, one Naperville team is champing at the bit for another championship a day earlier.
The national champion Naperville Patriots Junior Midget Red squad faces off against Deion Sanders' Dallas-based Select Truth football team in the first Under Armour Future Bowl on Saturday in Miami. The game will take place at noon (EST) at Traz Powell Stadium.
PATRIOTS ROSTER
Nolan Dean
Nick Dodson
Joffery Brown
Mike Dudek
Kenrick Schultz
Dillon Grooss
Brendan O'Brien
Nick Moscato
Mike Riesner
Nikhil Fowler
Reggie Johnson
Doug DiFusco
Justin Fahey
Jeremy Molina
Julian Huff
Jaden Huff
Peyton Mitchell
Davon Burrell
Tony Buenrostro
Sheldon (Jake) Jones
Jacob Huff
Bob McMillen
Tyler Bolger
Vinny Labus
Nick Kashul
Liam Nowaczyk
Tyler Bromer
Naperville coach Doug DiFusco's team, comprised mainly of eighth-grade players, made history in winning its third straight American Youth Football national championship in December. Its first two titles came at the Pee Wee level.
The teams were picked based upon their national acclaim and accomplishments this season.
"I don't think the kids will be rattled," DiFusco said of the atmosphere surrounding the game. "With this team, it seems like the bigger the game and the more intense the pressure, the better this team performs."
For a few of the Patriots players, Saturday will mark the end of an illustrious youth football career. DiFusco has coached some of the athletes since they were 9-years-old. Beyond the 70-3 record that group has compiled under the Naperville youth coach, players and coaches have established a bond that will last for years.
"The pressure the last three years is incomparable to state," DiFusco said, comparing the AYF national championships to high school football. "These kids have worked so hard and have been a pleasure to coach. Besides being great football players, they're great kids."
The Patriots have been perfect the past three years (49-0) and bring an 18-0 mark into their Future Bowl matchup.
They hope that enduring road to glory culminates in a victory against the former NFL star's team.
The Naperville Patriots will take part in a slew of festivities before their big game. Under Armour will provide pre-Future Bowl activities for the kids, with treatment worthy of NFL royalty.
After flying in Tuesday, the itinerary includes an Under Armour combine Thursday.
Under Armour also will fit athletes with new uniforms for their game and Riddell will provide helmets.
Then, Feb. 6 at noon, it's game time.
The Patriots undertook the more grueling part of Future Bowl-preparation beginning Dec. 23. That's when, on the heels of their third consecutive national title, Patriots coaches and players began practicing for their final test.
They practiced in the warm confines of Players Indoor Sports Center in Naperville. There, players wore multiple layers of clothing in order to simulate Miami's tropic conditions.
practicing and conditioning each week since then, the Patriots have fine-tuned their game plan as the ultimate championship approaches.
"We've had kind of a sense of anticipation recently," DiFusco said. "We've paid very close attention to detail and have handed out our scouting reports to the kids."
He knows the team will be ready.
"You win championships with your offensive and defensive lines," DiFusco said. "Our defense, we can always count on keeping us in the game."
The Patriots seek to frustrate Select Truth with a fast-break style offense and a defense that forces Sander's team to throw the ball and become one-dimensional.
Saturday's game caps a season that the team began preparing for with practices in late July. They'll finish the year in similar humid, muggy conditions.
But there will be a big prize on the line.
checking VS cable channel for possible coverage - will post if it shows up
---------------------------------------------------
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/sports/2030891,6_2_NA05_YOUTH_S1-100205.article
Patriots on national stage again
Junior Midget Red team faces Deion Sanders' squad in Miami
Comments
February 5, 2010
By ROB WOLLENZIEN For Sun-Times Media
While much of the nation eagerly awaits Sunday's Super Bowl, one Naperville team is champing at the bit for another championship a day earlier.
The national champion Naperville Patriots Junior Midget Red squad faces off against Deion Sanders' Dallas-based Select Truth football team in the first Under Armour Future Bowl on Saturday in Miami. The game will take place at noon (EST) at Traz Powell Stadium.
PATRIOTS ROSTER
Nolan Dean
Nick Dodson
Joffery Brown
Mike Dudek
Kenrick Schultz
Dillon Grooss
Brendan O'Brien
Nick Moscato
Mike Riesner
Nikhil Fowler
Reggie Johnson
Doug DiFusco
Justin Fahey
Jeremy Molina
Julian Huff
Jaden Huff
Peyton Mitchell
Davon Burrell
Tony Buenrostro
Sheldon (Jake) Jones
Jacob Huff
Bob McMillen
Tyler Bolger
Vinny Labus
Nick Kashul
Liam Nowaczyk
Tyler Bromer
Naperville coach Doug DiFusco's team, comprised mainly of eighth-grade players, made history in winning its third straight American Youth Football national championship in December. Its first two titles came at the Pee Wee level.
The teams were picked based upon their national acclaim and accomplishments this season.
"I don't think the kids will be rattled," DiFusco said of the atmosphere surrounding the game. "With this team, it seems like the bigger the game and the more intense the pressure, the better this team performs."
For a few of the Patriots players, Saturday will mark the end of an illustrious youth football career. DiFusco has coached some of the athletes since they were 9-years-old. Beyond the 70-3 record that group has compiled under the Naperville youth coach, players and coaches have established a bond that will last for years.
"The pressure the last three years is incomparable to state," DiFusco said, comparing the AYF national championships to high school football. "These kids have worked so hard and have been a pleasure to coach. Besides being great football players, they're great kids."
The Patriots have been perfect the past three years (49-0) and bring an 18-0 mark into their Future Bowl matchup.
They hope that enduring road to glory culminates in a victory against the former NFL star's team.
The Naperville Patriots will take part in a slew of festivities before their big game. Under Armour will provide pre-Future Bowl activities for the kids, with treatment worthy of NFL royalty.
After flying in Tuesday, the itinerary includes an Under Armour combine Thursday.
Under Armour also will fit athletes with new uniforms for their game and Riddell will provide helmets.
Then, Feb. 6 at noon, it's game time.
The Patriots undertook the more grueling part of Future Bowl-preparation beginning Dec. 23. That's when, on the heels of their third consecutive national title, Patriots coaches and players began practicing for their final test.
They practiced in the warm confines of Players Indoor Sports Center in Naperville. There, players wore multiple layers of clothing in order to simulate Miami's tropic conditions.
practicing and conditioning each week since then, the Patriots have fine-tuned their game plan as the ultimate championship approaches.
"We've had kind of a sense of anticipation recently," DiFusco said. "We've paid very close attention to detail and have handed out our scouting reports to the kids."
He knows the team will be ready.
"You win championships with your offensive and defensive lines," DiFusco said. "Our defense, we can always count on keeping us in the game."
The Patriots seek to frustrate Select Truth with a fast-break style offense and a defense that forces Sander's team to throw the ball and become one-dimensional.
Saturday's game caps a season that the team began preparing for with practices in late July. They'll finish the year in similar humid, muggy conditions.
But there will be a big prize on the line.