BERLIN- The Berlin Pop Warner football program had an up-and-down day last weekend, winning one game against Smyrna and dropping two on a busy day for the Seahawks.
In Berlin’s midget division game, the Seahawks were eliminated from post-season play, falling to Smyrna, 20-6, after taking a lead. Smyrna was knocking on the door as time ran down in the first half, but Berlin made a desperate goal-line stand to keep the game scoreless at the break. Berlin’s James Nickerson, who was in on the tackle during the goal-line stand, injured his leg and required a splint, but he later ripped the splint off and returned to the defensive unit in the fourth quarter.
On its first possession of the second half, Berlin running back D.J. Kee blasted through a huge hole created by offensive linemen Ben Crane and Jeff Evans and scampered 80 yards to put the Seahawks on top. However, Smyrna capitalized on several Berlin miscues the rest of the way and pulled away for the 20-6 win. Many of the 12-15-year-olds will move on to the high school level next year, while some of the younger players will return with more experience.
The Berlin Seahawks Pee Wee team didn’t fare much better against Smyrna last Saturday. Early in the game, Smyrna drove all the way to the Seahawks one-half yard line before a gutsy goal-line stand stalled the drive. Berlin forced Smyrna to turn the ball over on downs, but on their first play, the Seahawks were tackled in the end zone for a safety.
Berlin Head Coach Tony Morris was not disappointed with the exchange, however. “I’d rather give up two points than six,” he said. On Berlin’s next possession, Josh King ran 22 yards for a touchdown on a reverse to give the Seahawks a lead.
King scored another touchdown on Berlin’s next possession on a similar reverse play. However, the Seahawks went into halftime trailing 22-14 and neither team scored in the second half as Berlin fell to Smyrna by the same score.
The lone bright spot on the day for Berlin against Smyrna was a 19-13 win by the mighty mites team. Berlin’s Tyree Henry got the Seahawks’ scoring started with a 47-yard touchdown dash down the visitors’ sideline. A short time later, it was Henry scoring again, this time sprung by an awesome block by Torrey Brittingham. Henry followed Brittingham’s early block and ran 70 yards for Berlin’s second touchdown.
Brittingham got in the scoring act himself, dancing his way for a two-yard touchdown run. Team captain Ellen Bargar ran through the defense for the extra point to put Berlin ahead for good at 19-13. Bargar led Berlin in tackles, followed by Darion McKenzie and Allen “Spiderman” Bross.