New England Champs head to Florida for nationals
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

For the first time in the 41-year existence of the Oakmont Pop Warner football program, a team is headed to Nationals.

On Sunday, Nov. 25, the defense denominated the game, in which the Oakmont Chargers scored the game's sole touchdown on the first play of the game.

Sean Lehan ran for the touchdown behind James Harrington, Patrick Harrington, Eric Duffy, Joe Peters, Tim Marsh, Tommy Loomis, Frank Melito and Jane Peters.

Trevor Garofano followed the touchdown with the two-point conversion kick.

The Pop Warner New England Regional Championship Game was played in Chicopee on Sunday afternoon against a team from Newington, Conn.

"We continued to move the ball, but we couldn't push it in," said head coach John Harrington.

Dayton Lavender operated the offense with confidence and grace and Jackson Sheehan did a great job moving the ball.

Defensively, Oakmont was led by Connor Lehan and his game-saving tackles, along with Joe Vargeletis, Ray Armstrong, Cam Baker, Dylan Wyman, Ryan Curtis, Michael Hiltz and Justin Osborne, who were stifling on defense.

James Harrington not only blocked a punt in the fourth quarter, but played his best defensive game of the season.

Ray Armstrong almost broke a kickoff and had a valiant run, dragging two or three players. To clinch the game, Evan Brown had an interception to end it.

"Right now we are just trying to enjoy ourselves," Harrington said.

He said the week has been busy, letting the New England Championship win sink in and mentally preparing to play the Texas team, which will be their first opponent.

"We'll probably have two light practices before we get down there," Harrington said. "We are representing New England so we want to make sure everyone is on their best behavior. We are going to do our best to represent New England."

The team will fly out on Monday in order to compete for the Division II National Championship Title during a six-day event in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

They will be facing seven other teams from across the country for the title, including the Southside Cowboys, Capital City Steelers, the Kahaluu Biee Broncos, the Midwest Tigers, the Suncoast Bucs, Sunnyvale Rockets, and the Westport Patriots.

The Pop Warner Championship Week takes place at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. The Chargers will play first on Tuesday and then play again on Friday.

Harrington said every team that goes plays at least two games. Those that don't compete for the championship will complete against each other in the consolation game.

"It's all still very overwhelming," he said.

The team is trying to raise as much of the $20,000 to get the players and coaches to Florida as possible. As of the middle of the week they had raised $3,000 in collections outside of area businesses and events.

The New England Patriots organization donated $1,250 to the team. The Patriots donate money to every New England team going to the championships.

Anyone wishing to support the team to get them to Florida may send a donation to Oakmont Pop Warner P.O. Box 332, Westminister, MA 01453.