Coach Matt Mottes and the Vikings High School team isn’t the only football program in Hopewell playing an important game this weekend.
The Hopewell Youth Football teams (Termites and Mighty Mites) will begin playoff action this weekend.
The Termites will play on Saturday vs. Ambridge (Noon) at Ambridge Field. Admission is free. The Mighty Mites will play on Saturday vs. Moon (6 PM) at Wright Field in Blackhawk. $5 a car to get in.
The players and coaches with these teams have been practicing and playing hard since August and now it’s playoff time.
Vikings Sports Now spoke with a couple coaches with the Hopewell Mighty Mite team. Head Coach Jeremy Boehm along with Offensive and Defensive line coach Vito Petrina were able to provide us with some insight into their group of players.
“Our team is composed of athletes of all different backgrounds and levels of experience,” Coach Boehm told VSN. “Some of our players are in their 7th year of football while others are just getting started. Since Week 1 of this season, our coaches have pushed the importance of core values including, “individual effort”. That’s one thing that every player needs to bring themselves. Effort is what makes the difference in close games and what sets apart good athletes from great athletes. It’s our hope that this core value and others stick with these players well beyond their sports careers.”
“Though our individual coaches have years of experience with various youth sports, this is our 1st year coaching together. Our primary responsibilities are focused on our respective departments; offense, defense, line, and special teams, but we also collaborate across departments with multiple perspectives, techniques, and gametime adjustments. I have full confidence in our staff to coach individually but feedback and another’s perspective definitely helps.”
Regardless of the outcome on Saturday, Coach Boehm appreciates the effort he’s received from everyone involved and is excited to watch these players continue to develop and one day when they’re playing at Tony Dorsett Stadium.
“My starting offensive line is Xander Garcia (center), Carson Schofield (left guard), Maxx Fisher (left tackle), Gunner Petrina (right guard), Colton Grundza (right tackle). These front 5 make up an outstanding team together and have consistently shown up to practice ready to work,” said Coach Petrina. “Not only do we have speed at the guard positions, but we have size at tackles. Garcia is consistent with his snaps and handling the nose guard one on one. Schofield, with his speed and strength makes it tough for any linebacker to blitz the A gap. Maxx is dominate at controlling the D-tackle sealing off the outside. Petrina effective at picking up the blitz, is a 2nd level nightmare. Colton is just a blocking menace.”
“We also have Reagan Haring who is used as a multi-position lineman. He plays both guard and tackle and easily controls the defensive line. Our o-line has the tenacity and heart that any QB would want in front of them. The defensive line is any offensive coordinators worst nightmare. Grundza at the nose position is a wrecking ball in the middle. Carson is at tackle and absolutely dominates offensive linemen with his shear speed and power. Â Xander is at the other tackle position and with his speed and techniques he easily finds his way into the backfield.”
HOPEWELL VIKINGS MIGHTY MITES
Breyson Hoth
Sullivan Smith
Emryk Cain
Kellen Boehm
Michael Ambrose
Preston Johndrow
Jaxon Anzur
Micah Latimore
Bryce Croner
Colton Lenart
Jaxxon Hillard
Erin Points
Austin Adams
Tyler Berich
Roman Bertucci
Cauis Kleckner
Parker Smithyman
Wes Gigliotti
Kye Hudgins
Cyrus Moskes
Jonathan Pettis
Tarion Lewis
Logan Nelson
Jayce McGowan
Gunner Petrina
Colton Grundza
Xander Garcia
Maxx Fisher
Carson Schofield
Nathaniel Newberry
Jace Cambell
Reagan Haring
Hopewell Vikings Termites
Prince Shell
Jaxon Kleckner
Elias Swenson
KC Hudgins
Zane Muzy
Josiah Arrington
Elijah Schuey
Quinn Zappas
Jeremiah Brunton
Coleson Orie
Huey Szafranski
Joseph Shuttleworth
Leyton Majors
Jonah Honess
Mason Grundza
Nicholas Hughes
Thomas Carver
Lincoln Bokor
Kaden Thomas
Enzo Colalella
Linebackers Kye Hudgens, Emryk Cain, and Mike Ambrose brought intensity and shut down the Cougars run game with sophisticated blitz packages. Hudgens pulled down an interception in the 2nd quarter that almost went to the house!