2007 Season Recap

Ages 8, 9, AND 10 Weight 60 - 105lbs End of Season Max 114lbs

Age 11 Weight 60 - 85lbs End of Season Max 94lbs

Head Coach - Larry D. Alston
Assistant Coaches - Mel Richards, Bill Hurst, Sean Steppe, Chris White, Jeff Smith

LIONS OPEN WITH impressive win 28-0 9/10/06

The 2006 version of the Junior Pee Wee Lions opened the season with an impressive 28-0 victory against a disciplined Bergen County (New Jersey) team. The Lions began on defense with key stops by Anthony Battle(12) and Bryson Hayes(35). From there the offense, led by quaterbacks Tyler Fernandez(2) and Beinson Bracey(11) moved the ball downfield. The drive was hi-lited by a 35 yard scamper by Tyreik Kerr(26) to the Bergen 3 yard line. Fernandez capped the drive of with a quaterback sneak and Jonathan forrest(21) added the extra point.

The ensuing kickoff return nearly went for a touchdown but the kicker Jonathan Yudell (57) was able to tackle the ball carrier. Two long touchdown runs of 30 and 55 yards by Demarcus Miller(27) and Strong running by Malik "Mouse" Smith, including a touchdown run of 12 yards, completed the scoring. Bracey added two extra point conversion runs.

LIONS Hold On for Win 18-13 9/17/06

After opening the season with a 28-0 win, the Lions faced a strong New City team on their turf. The Lions seemed poised to roll after taking a 12-0 lead into the half against New City. However, New City opened the second half with a 65 yard touchdown on the kickoff to cut the lead to 12-6. Defensive standout Beinson Bracey was able to increase the Lion lead to 18-6 with a scoop of a New City fumble and a 40 yard race to the end-zone. New City then responded with a drive that ended with a 40 yard touchdown burst off-tackle and a successful extra point, which closed the score to 18-13. New City was able to get the ball for a last drive but the Lion defense, led by Anthony Battle (12), Jonathan Forrest(21), John Tommarello (17) and Aaron Freeze(34) held them on 4th down.

Demarcus Miller(27) opened the scoring for the Lions with a 55 yard touchdown and Bracey added a touchdown with a 5 yard touchdown. The opening drive was hi-lighted by strong running by Malik Smith(9), including a 40 yard scamper to the 5 yard line, which set up Bracey's touchdown.

LIONS Flattened 20-6 9/23/06

The 2-0 Lions entered Saturday nites game against a returning Jr. Pee Wee champion team from Valley Cottage looking to gage themselves. After falling behind 20-0 in the first half of play it seemed clear that the Lions were overmatched. Valley Cottage drove down the field at will against the Lion defense in the first half and scored on three consecutive drives.

In the first half the Lions offense was not able to move the ball effectively. After halftime the Lions players responded with a strong effort and held Valley Cottage scoreless. In the fourth quarter Corey Holder (55) blocked a Valley Cottage punt that Jon Tommarelle (17)returned 45 yards for a touchdown, giving the Lions and their fans hope of a comeback.

After driving the ball to the 25 yard line of Valley Cottage, penalties pushed the Lions back and they were unable to gain a first down on fourth down and 20.

The Lions had strong efforts by Tyler Fernandez (2), Jonathan Forrest (21) Aaron Freeze (34),Jordan Lawrence (42), and Joshua Smart (58).

LIONS Rained Out 14-6 10/01/06

On Sunday 10/01/06 the Lions faced the Eastchester Blue devils and suffered a 14-6 loss in a game that was played under rain soaked conditions. After beginning the season 2-0 the Jr. Pee Wee Lions have dropped two straight to tough opponents and now stand 2-2.

The Lions started the game on defense and Eastchester marched down the field and scored on its first possession. Before they knew it, and similar to the Valley Cottage game, the Lions were down 7-0 . However, unlike the Valley Cottage game, the Lions held Eastchester scoreless for the remainder of the half. The offense was able to get on track with strong blocking by Sam Schwarz (85), Josh Smart (58), Wjihante Holden (43) and Rakim Parker(80), and running by Malik Smith (9) and Aaron Freeze (34), but three lost fumbles in the half ended Lion drives.

In the second half the Lions continued to pound away at the Eastchester defense with a drive that feaured five consecutive tough runs by Jonathan Forrest (21). Forrest capped off the drive with a 30 yard touchdown around the left end block of Sonny Lorenzo (30). With the score 7-6 (Lion extra point failed), the Lions held Eastchester until a Eastchester 4th and 12 was converted, which lead to another touchdown and the final margin of 14-6. The attempted comeback to tie the game ended when the Lions were unable to convert a 4th down on the Eatchester 35 yard line.

In addition to the offensive line standing out the Lions had strong defensive efforts by Maqwaan Walker(14), Anthony Battle(12), and Corey Holder (55).

Lions Go to Double Overtime: stumble 21-20 10/22/06

A week after falling in an overtime nail biter against North Rockland, the Jr. Pee Wee Lions decided to do us one better by playing a thrilling double overtime contest against Orangetown, that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Orangetown took a 7-0 lead into the half before Lion CJ Anthony (28) scored on a nifty reverse in the second half. The Lions added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 at the end of regulation. The first overtime began with Orangetown receiving the ball on the Lion twenty, after 8 plays they were able to score the touchdown and extra point, making the score Orangetown 14- Lions 7. The Lions then utilized bruising running back Jonathan Forrest(21) on successive plays before Anthony (28) finished off the drive with his second touchdown.

With Orangetown still up by one point 14-13 the extra point was crucial for the Lions. Quarterback Tyler Fernandez (2) stepped up to the challenge and powered in for the touchdown to tie the score at 14 and send the game into the second overtime. In the second overtime the Lions received the ball first and again utilized Forrest (21) ,who had run tough all day, to move the ball. Forrest (21) soon scored on a power run behind the blocking of Anthony Battle (12) and Rakim Parker (80) making the score Lions 20 Patriots 14. However, the Lions were unable to score on the crucial extra point.

The Lion defense then took the field and held Orangetown to a fourth and 1 on the ten yard line, which Orangetown barely converted. After holding Orangetown on 1st, 2nd and third down, it was 4th down on the 5 yard line. If the Lions defense held here they would win the game. However, Orangetown threw a pitch pass that was tipped by a Lion defender, but was still caught for a touchdown. The score was then tied 20-20. Orangetown was able to run around left end for the extra point, avoiding a third overtime and sealing the score at 21-20.

This was a great game full of great efforts by the Lions including Forrest(21), CJ Anthony (28) and Demarcus Miller (27) running the ball. The passing of Tyler Fernandez(2), who threw for nearly 100 yards to John Tomarelle (17), Mequaan Walker (14) and Anthony (28) was a hi-lite. And the defense was led by Fernandez (interception), Beinson Bracey (fumble recovery) and linebacker Tomarelle(17), who had multiple stops.

Lions Tie 6-6 vs Orangetown II 10/29/06

The Jr. Pee Wee Lions traveled to Orangeburg New York and tied Orangetown II 6-6. This was a game of errors as 3 Lion defensive penalties on Orangetowns first drive gave up 30 yards that eventually led to a Orangetown touchdown. The Lions offense was able to move the ball on the next possession with runs by Malik Smith(9) and Demarcus Miller(27). Eventually, blocking by Jonathan Yudell(57), Akeel Franklin (82), Jevon Taylor (66), Brandon Trotter(52) and Josh Smart(58) helped pave the way for Tyreik Kerr's(26) 5 yard touchdown run in the second quarter. However, the Lions were unable to convert the extra point, and the score tied 6-6 at the half.

The second half consisted of field position as neither team could pass the ball with wind gusts of a reported 50mph that carried the ball when in the air. The Lions were unable to sustain a scoring threat for the remainder of the game despite strong running by Aaron Freeze(34) and quarterback Tyler Fernandez(2). Defensive standouts for the Lions were Malik Smith(9), John Tomarelle(17) and Rakim Parker (80)

Lions Breakthrough With A Win 11/5/06

After a few weeks of tough overtime losses and a tie, the Jr. Pee Wee Lions returned to the victory column with a 12-2 win over Monroe-Woodbury.

The Lions began the game on defense and was unable to stop the Monroe-Woodbury attack from moving the ball downfield. Penalties against the Lion defense contributed to the Monroe-Woodbury offense driving the ball. However the Lion defense, led by Malik Smith(9), Corey Holder(55), Aaron Freeze(34) and Jonathan Forrest(21), held the Crusaders on the drive. In the second quarter the Lion punt team was backed up on their own 10 and the Lions punter mishandled the ball. This gave the Crusaders the ball within the Lions 10 yard line. Cornerback Demarcus Miller(27) then intercepted a Crusader pass and prevented a touchdown. On the next series the Crusader defense sacked Lion quarterback Tyler Fernandez(2) in the end-zone, giving them a safety and the teams went to the half with the Crusaders leading 2-0.

The second half began with a bang as Monroe-Woodbury attempted an onsides kick. The kick was picked up on the run by Bryson Hayes(35) who avoided one man and ran 55 yards up the right sideline to give the lions a 6-2 lead. The two teams battled the remainder of the game until Lion fullback Malik Smith(9) burst up the middle and ran to paydirt for a 35 yard score, increasing the score to 12-2.

The Lion offense was lead by the strong running of CJ Anthony(28), Tyreik Kerr(26) and Smith(9) with strong blocking by Jonathon Yudell(57), Jevon Taylor (66), Akeel Franklin(82), Sam Schwarz(85), Wjhante Holden(43) and Sonny Lorenzo(30). The defense was lead by Rakim Parker(80), Beinson Bracey(11) and free safety Tyler Fernandez(2).

Lions Caught By Ramapo: 20-13 11/12/06

On Sunday 11/12/06 the Lions played an outnumbered , yet tough team from Ramapo and lost 20-13. This was one of the most difficult defeats of the Jr. Pee Wee Lions up and down season, as they seemingly controlled the game in the first half of play.

Tyriek Kerr(26) opened the scoring for the Lions on their second possession with a 35 yard touchdown on a reverse. This drive was hi-lighted with strong power runs by Malik Smith(9) behind the blocking of Sonny Lorenzo(30), Wjhante Holder(43), Josh Smart(58), Jonathan Yudell(57), Akeel Franklin(82), Brandon Trotter(52), and Keimon Barrow(16). Demarcus Miller(27) then added the extra point run.

The Lion defense then took control and stopped Ramapo on successive drives. In the second quarter the Lions began to move the ball again as quaterback Tyler Fernandez(2) (who completed 5 passes), hit CJ anthony in the flat and Anthony bolted 65 yards for a touchdown. However, the touchdown was called back due to a penalty on the Lions. Once the offense received the ball again the Lions offense drove the ball downfield once more before Jonathan Forrest(21) burst off the tackle and end blocks by Rakim Parker(80) and John Tomarelle(17) for a 25 yard score. The Lions were now up 13-0 and seemingly had the game in control before going to the half, but when they kicked off after the Forrest touchdown, Ramapo was able to return the kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown. The extra point pass was completed and the score was 13-7 at the half.

The Lions came out and re-established themselves on offense by driving the ball downfield with passing of Fernandez(2) to CJ Anthony(28)and tough running of Smith(9), Miller(27) and Forrest(21). However a turnover on the Ramapo drive ended a scoring opportunity. A Ramapo runner was then able to get around the right end of the Lion defense and run 80 yards for a touchdown that even the score at 13.

The two teams traded punts and field position for the remainder of the game until late in the fourth quater when Ramapo attempted a reverse that was seemingly tackled for a loss by Lion Corey Holder(55), but the runner pitched the ball back to another runner who escaped a tackle and ran around end fro another 80 yard touchdown. The Lions recieved the ball back on their own 30 with 2:10 remaining and the offense moved the ball down to the Ramapo 22 yard line but were unable to convert a 4th and 1 that could have continued the drive and tied the score.

LIONS WIN TWIN CITY CLASSIC 6-0 11/25/06

The Jr. Pee Wee Lions finished the 2006 up and down season on a high note winning the twin city classic against the Winston-Salem Greyhounds 6-0. his was a hard fought affair by both teams in which defense was the name of the game. The Greyhounds received the first kick and proceeded to move the ball downfield on the Lion defense. The defense then stiffened thanks to a Greyhound penalty were able to hold on a fourth down and long.

The  Lions were able to move the ball thanks to the running of Demarcus Miller(27), Tyreik Kerr(26)  and Jordan Lawrence(42). These runs were thanks to the outstanding blocking of lineman Jonathan Yudell(57), Corey Holder(55), Malik Smith(9), Jevon Parker(66), Akeel Franklin(82), Sam Schwarz(85), Wijante Holder(43) and tight ends Keimon Barrow(16) and Beinson Bracey(11).

The teams traded field position for the rest of the half until the Lion offense put together a drive which ended with quarterback Tyler Fernandez(2) executing a quarterback sneak that he turned into a twenty yard touchdown by breaking tackles along the way to the end-zone.

The Lions were able to play good defense for the remainder of the game hi lighted by strong performances by Maquaan Walker(14) ,2 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks and multiple stops behind the line of scrimmage, Malik Smith(9) with 2 sacks, Demarcus Miller(27) at cornerback and safety Beinson Bracey(11). The defense was also helped by the run stopping of linebacker Jonathan Forrest(21), Ends Rakim Parker(80) and Anthony Battle(12) and cornerback Bryson Hayes(35).

The Lion offense continued to move the ball in the second half without scoring and eventually moved the ball to the one yard line of the Greyhounds before allowing the clock to run out to end the game.

A scary moment in the game was when Lion running back CJ Anthony suffered a injury while running hard and was taken to the hospital. We are happy to report to those in attendance that Anthony did not break his ankle and he is expected to make a full recovery.