Mighty Mites post historic season

When the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Pop Warner Mighty Mites opened their 2018 season, only six of their 18 players had played tackle football before.

That didn’t stop them from posting a historic regular season that would draw envy from all levels of teams on the gridiron.

Led by coaches Mark Chieco, Bill Burnett, Randy Savachka and Scott Munroe, VVS won all seven of its regular season games via a shutout, holding three of those opponents without a first down en route to a Tri-Valley Pop Warner Division III championship game against Camden.

Fittingly, VVS posted a 6- 0 shutout over Camden at Sauquoit High School on Saturday, Oct. 27 in the driving rain to cap off an unbeaten, never-scored-on 2018 campaign, making Nolan Blehar, Carter Boucher, William Burnett, Anthony Chieco, Jayden Emerson, Lukas Fabrey, Layne Foster, Bruce Gustina, Sean Joseph, Athyn Klahs, James Mann, Wesley Mann, Colt Munroe, Adam Munz, Gavin Regan, Landon Savachka, Gabriel Wheeler, Deagan Williams league champions.

The team, made up of youngsters from the VVS district between the ages of 7 and 9, had a capable offense as well, averaging 20 points per game

throughout the season.

The defense, though, is what makes this team different than any other VVS Pop Warner side.

The 2018 Red Devils were the first Pop Warner team at the school district to not allow a score throughout the entire season.

They are the first VVS Pop Warner team to win the league since 2016.

VVS Pop Warner has Jr. Pee Wee, Mighty Mites and Flag level teams that start their season Aug. 1 and are always looking for new players to join.

PHOTO COURTESY TRACY CHIECO The Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Mighty Mites completed an unbeaten 2018season without allowing a point on defense.

PHOTO COURTESY TRACY CHIECO The Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Mighty Mites celebrate a league championship following a 6-0win over Camden on Oct. 27.