It’s been long believed that North Bergen Recreation runs one of the finest youth football programs in the state. For more than 40 years, the North Bergen program has produced thousands of young football players and cheerleaders, making for a very enjoyable fall season for the youngsters and their parents.
It becomes even more enjoyable when a team wins a championship. And when two of the township’s three youth football teams win titles, then it’s cause for a giant celebration.
That’s what happened last weekend, when two of North Bergen’s teams won their respective age and weight divisions in the Hudson County Youth Football League.
The Red Raiders defeated East Orange, 20-19, to earn the championship of the heavyweight (13-to-14-year-old) division, while the Eagles defeated the Jersey City Giants, 15-12, to win the middleweight (12-to-13-year-old) title.
The Red Raiders received three touchdowns from halfback Chris Pena of 22 yards, two yards and five yards respectively to nail down the title, the second in three years for the Red Raiders and head coach Walter Somick. The Eagles were led by Frank Almanzar, who scored touchdowns on runs of 54 and 99 yards respectively, with Joseph Friere coming up big with a safety in the final minute of play to seal the victory. Chris Macias also had a key interception for the Eagles and head coach Phil Natosi.
According to Somick, a standout performer during his days at North Bergen High School, the program is the reason why these youngsters succeed.
“I’m a product of the program,” Somick said. “I played for North Bergen Rec and it helped me move on. Everybody has been there for so long and everybody knows everybody. It’s been that way since I was a kid and it remains that way. When newcomers come, they blend right in, like it’s a big family.”
Added Somick, “The program is just excellent. I talk to parents from other towns and they can’t believe how good our program is.”
It’s a credit to the hard work and dedication of people in charge, like Parks and Recreation Commissioner Peter Perez, Football Business Manager John “Digger” O’Dell and Recreation Supervisor John Cellini.
But Somick also credited the work of countless coaches and parents who give of their time for the benefit of their children.
“Everyone gives their support,” said Somick, who has been coaching in the league for 12 years now, juggling his free time from his job as an electrician. “It’s all for the kids and everyone understands that.”
Somick said that the key supporter is Mayor Nicholas Sacco, whose son, Nick, Jr., was one of the coaches on Somick’s staff this season.
“The bottom line is that Mayor Sacco cares,” Somick said. “He’s always there. I mean, he was offering coaching tips to me this year. I actually put in one play that he gave us. And the play worked.”
Sacco has always been a staunch supporter of the youth football program, particularly because he played football at Memorial High School in the 1960s, before North Bergen had its own high school.
Paul O’Dell, John Shaw, Jr., Dave Van Aken and Pat Cospito also assisted Somick. Somick said that this season was particularly pleasing, because he coached with two people he once coached when they were players in the youth league, namely Nick Sacco, Jr. and Cospito.
“I guess that’s a sign I’m getting old,” Somick said.
Somick said that the team was a lot of fun to coach, especially since the team lost twice early on and were not given much chance to succeed.
“We lost two starters to injury and two more quit,” Somick said. “But the kids hung in there and played hard. They have a lot more on their minds than most kids. They had talent, but it was all how cerebral they were. But they’re good kids and they listen. And they’re tough.”
Added Somick, “And these kids love to hit. I was afraid to let them practice against each other, because they would hurt each other. Our quarterback had a fractured shoulder from getting hit in practice. These kids just loved to play. “
Somick said that his team had a few stars of the future, like the aforementioned Pena, linebacker/fullback Anthony Ruiz and halfback/safety Sal Rivera.
But the real star of the future is center/nose guard Mike Rodriguez, who already has two nicknames.
“We call him, ‘The Sacker of Cities,’ or ‘Rodzilla,'” Somick said. “He absolutely dominated at times. He made big plays at big times.”
With names like that, he will also be very hard to forget in the future.