Junior Eagles go to Pop Warner playoffs

Photo by Maghan Hunt

MAN TO MAN: A free saftey for the Junior Eagles midget team bats away the ball from his opponent's grasp. The Junior Eagles hosted the Chico Scorchers at WVHS.

The West Valley Junior Eagles midgets, junior midgets and pee wee football teams began their first round of the Pop Warner playoffs this weekend. The midgets, coached by John Karpiuski, beat the Chico Scorchers at home (West Valley High School) 46-15. The midgets team went into the playoffs 9-0 in their division and are seeded number one.

"The midgets have a big and explosive front line, with two of the best running backs in the league," said Chad Bennett, Junior Eagle pee wee coach. "The boys played a great game all the way around."

The running backs and quarterbacks are Austin Clark, Brady Castleman, Preston Pelitier, DeShawn Tanner and Dominic Winders.

The Junior Eagles junior midgets played the Chico Scorchers at Enterprise High School in Redding. Mike Arnerich coaches them. The team is seeded in the number two spot. The team's leading players are Brody Jones, Brandon Guard and Chase Savage.

"There are a lot of first year players on the junior midget team that have never played before, playing key positions and are doing well at it," stated Bennett.

They are the fourth seed and their game was played in River Valley against the Sutter Junior pee wee team.

"They have an excellent passing and running game and are a very well rounded team. The running backs for the pee wee team are Jaden Silva, Cody Bennett and Isiah Williams," said Coach Bennet. "We are all hoping to make it through to the next round of the playoffs. The playoffs are single round elimination.

"The (West Valley High School) coaching staff has been great, along with the players from the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams taking the time to work with the kids. It will help to keep the West Valley Eagles football program and the Pop Warner West Valley Junior Eagles thriving. The high school players come down to work with and talk with the younger players and to give them some tips on playing their positions. It is huge," said Bennett.

The final score for the Junior Eagles pee wee team after going into double overtime was 20-26. Even though the team played hard they lost to Sutter.

The junior midgets won their game against the Chico Scorchers, 24-8, and will travel down to Fall River to play Sutter at home. The midgets will host Orville at West Valley.