By Ed Muniz- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
**Additional Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p136897922 **
The 11U Arlington Dawgs Homecoming game saw the Tri-City Wolverines come calling.
With all the hoopla that is part of the Dawgs Homecoming, the visitors welcomed the opportunity to ruin the celebration.
When it comes to football, if you have a competitive bone in your body, you relish the opportunity to be someone’s spoiler, someone’s pebble in their shoe, someone’s Party Pooper!
It’s unknown if the Wolverines actually felt that way but it sure makes for a perfect lead into the game of good versus evil.
This game turned out to be a slugfest of defenses. The only offensive scoring in the game came in the first quarter when Rocco Caputo plunged into the endzone from a yard out. A pass completion by Tyler Lee to Jack Miyares for the extra-point conversion surprised all, giving the Arlington Dawgs a 7-0 lead they never relinquished.
“Our game plan going into this week was to really just establish running the ball,” said Head Coach Sean Lee. “Clock control and make sure we can get yards every play, we struggled with that up to this point. We’ve had too many turnovers, struggling to keep the ball.”
“Today we were able to establish a good running game, hold the ball, control the clock the entire game which put the victory on the board.”
Coach Lee added he was happy with his players’ performances.
“I’m really proud of how the kids blocked today, they did a great job blocking. We worked on that all week. We still have to improve on kids knowing their positions and responsibilities, what teams they’re on in terms of special teams and working on our tackling, staying low, wrapping up and gang tackling.”
The Dawgs opened the game offensively and used a big run by Jack Miyares that saw him head to one sideline then back across the field to the other sideline for 25 yards.
Sitting at the Wolverine 32, the Dawgs went to several players using a ground game that worked its way closer to the endzone.
Runs by Jack Grana, Tyler Lee, Caleb Brunet and Miyares got the ball to the Wolverine 1 yard-line.
Going next to Caputo was a no brainer. You see, Caputo is a large specimen of a young man among boys. When he falls, he looks like he picks up three yards, so of course the Dawgs handed the pigskin to him, and he muscled his way easily into the endzone for the touchdown.
“I don’t take plays off, it’s the way they block me. I like playing the line and running the ball too,” said Caputo. “I’m comfortable playing the line and being that big guy. I like running the ball because some of the little kids get tackled right away, when I get it, I just barge through and get the touchdown. I got to work on moves at the line when I run. I’m bigger than all the guys so I have an advantage.”
Caputo also faced an opponent of similar size on the Wolverines team. When asked about him, Rocco said, “He Soft, where I can just shoulder through everyone, not him. Playing defense, I like getting the Quarterback and sometimes get a score by getting a safety.”
Caputo did add a safety to his resume grabbing one to end the third quarter.
After the initial score by the Dawgs, the Arlington defense stepped up their game by shutting down the Wolverine offense. Tackles by Lee, Liam Schneider, Rocco and Dominic Caputo forced a Wolverine punt on their next possession.
Bothe defenses were upping their attack and forcing the opponent into fourth down situations that failed. Each team’s defenses were now exchanging stops and forcing turnover on downs until halftime.
Keeping the visitors scoreless was the play of McKinney, Lee, Andreas Demos, Brody Splitt and Rocco Flores each providing stops.
Heading the success of the first half offense was Tyler Lee, he showed poise and determination in directing his team.
“I think we could have run the ball father up on some of the runs,” said Tyler Lee. “I think we made some good cuts and some bad cuts during the game, but I know we had more good than bad. For me, just getting the ball off is something I need to improve and as a team, just hold our blocks longer. I think we are working up and getting better every game.”
Starting the second half with the ball, the Dawgs now went to McKinney to guide the offense.
Things were looking very good as the Dawgs pounded the ball and moved up field towards the Wolverines goal line. A couple penalties by both teams and some hard running by McKinney himself for 12- and 14-yards soon had the Dawgs inside the Wolverines 5 yard-line.
Unfortunately, a fumble snafu at the 2 cost the Dawgs another chance to increase their lead after the Wolverines came up with the ball.
Although the Dawgs lost the ball, McKinney showed leadership, speed and agility moving the offense.
“I like running the ball, anytime coach calls on me to run, I like doing it,” said second half Quarterback Colin McKinney.
McKinney is more of a shifty, slashing type of runner who doesn’t give defenders a clean shot at him.
“I kinda just developed my running style and I’m comfortable with it. Sometimes playing quarterback I throw it to the wrong guy instead of throwing it to somebody who is wide open. I want to improve by seeing the field better. I like playing quarterback. Some games Tyler (Lee) looks better than me, but I think I had a pretty good game today and I’m not saying that to be rude to Tyler.”
Immediately after the lost fumble, the Dawgs defense added to their lead on the very next try by the Wolverines.
Barging through from the Wolverine 2, Caputo showed what he is capable of and stopped the Wolverine ball carrier in the endzone for a safety and a 9-0 Dawgs lead.
The Dawgs got the ball back and eased their way to the victory after again stopping anything the Wolverines tried for the 9-0 shutout win to celebrate their Homecoming.
Other Dawgs also contributing in the festive victory were Collin and Tyler Gillespie, Thiago Gonzalez, Gunnar Austermuehle, Henry Rathge, Anthony Pepsnik, Robery Guill, Cameron Alpert, Gianni Palmisano and Karter Rizzo.
