Fairport Pop Warner Junior Red Raiders Football and Cheerleading

The Jr Pee Wee Red squad has found tough sledding playing the Southwest Colts over the past few years, and unfortunately that trend continued on Sunday. On another beautiful morning for football, the Raiders found themselves down 13-0 before ever taking an offensive snap. On Southwest’s first drive, the Raiders were ready to hold the Colts out of the end zone, forcing a 4^th down and goal from the 10 yard line. However, a sweep to the right and quick cutback by the Colts’ running back led to the score, and Southwest never looked back. On the ensuing kickoff, a nice Fairport return ended with a stripped ball and fumble, leading to another Southwest possession and score – and a 13-0 Southwest lead. Fairport’s offense stalled quickly with some uncharacteristic mistakes – a false start penalty and 2 fumbles on the center-quarterback exchange. Again the Colts quickly took advantage, scoring another touchdown on a broken play. Matt Cronk brightened the Raider’s day on the next play, intercepting the Colt’s extra point pass attempt.  The first half ended with another Fairport mistake – a backward pass/fumble scooped up by a Colts defender and returned 25 yards for the score. After the lopsided first half, the determined Raiders came out in the 2^nd half with more fire, and the game turned into a bruising defensive battle the rest of the way. Fairport’s offense showed a little spark, with a few nice connections through the air from QB Matt McGlory to Rocky Lipinski. On defense, McGlory was a one-man wrecking crew, making tackles all over the field, with strong defensive efforts from Cronk, Tyler Smith, Jacob Schwab, Liam “Big Easy” McKessy, Noah Semler, Cory Salera, Andy Copeland and Brian Egan. The new young Raiders playing in their first away game shook of their nervousness and played tough in the second half, including Tyler Love, Evan Gaudieri and Bryan Starkweather on the offensive side of the ball, and Javy Lewis and Maho Sinanovic on the offensive side. Special recognition goes to Coleton Pallotto, Yamout Amir, Brant McElveny, Andrew Kidd and Tyler “All-day” O’Dea, who fearlessly took on some of the biggest Southwest defenders without giving ground. The Raiders played the Colts even in the 0-0 2^nd half – a moral victory and something to build on as they prepare for an away game vs the Irondequoit Screamin’ Eagles next Sunday.