GLEN RIDGE – After winning the league championship to cap an undefeated season, the Glen Ridge Red Dogs 5th/6th grade football team has been invited to compete in the National Youth Football Championship Mid-Atlantic Regionals which are being held at Pope John High School in Sparta.
The Mid-Atlantic Regionals, which covers Maine to New Jersey, will take place Friday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec.3. The Red Dogs are guaranteed to play on both Friday and Saturday. The championship is Sunday.
The Red Dogs will compete in a bracket of six teams.
The championship winner will advance to play for the National Championship on Dec. 15 at the NFL Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Oh.
Prior to the season, the Red Dogs were put on a Watch List. At the end of the regular season, the National Football League Hall of Fame invited the Red Dogs to compete in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals based on their stellar season.
The Red Dogs finished 10-0 and won the Bergen County Junior Football League Super Bowl on Nov.19 with a 26-6 victory over Waldwick/Midland Park. This is their third consecutive championship and during that time, the team has a record of 30-0.
GR led the league in all age groups in points scored with 292 and zero punts all season, while only giving up just three touchdowns at the varsity level on defense in 10 games.
Most importantly, with 24 kids playing more than 300 games this season, the team had no concussions and only one player missed one game due to a toe injury.
Jim Vigna, the team’s head coach, is excited for the Red Dogs for this incredible opportunity to play in the regionals.
“It’s great,” Vigna said. “These kids, since August 14, have worked really hard. It’s a talented group.We’re still a small town, but to be able to be recognized is pretty unique and we got a big opportunity to see how far we can go.”
Red Dogs 5th/6th grade player roster
Colin Dowd
Bradley Foster
Charlie Killen
Jake Machemer
David Manzo
Matthew Morris
Akhilesh Nair
Luke Olczak
Asa Ravenell
Maxwell Rieman
Christian Velardi
Christopher Vigna
Emmet Bushue
Max Corradi
Alec Delgado
Daniel Easter
Morgan Horan
William Horan
Collin Horsky
David Kelly Jr.
Griffin Looney
Dylan O’Neil
Frankie Renois
Hayden Walmsley
Assistant coaches
Sean Looney
Chris O’Neil
Michael Spitaletta
Pat Johnston
About the Author
That’s the spirit. Condone and promote a sport which is known to cause brain damage. Start them younger so there is more time for the kids to develop that damage. Brilliant…