The North Bergen Recreation Football League’s Red Raiders, a heavyweight team composed of 12-14 year old boys, has gone undefeated for three years and was scheduled on Saturday to enter the program’s first statewide football tournament.
“I think it’s great,” said Sonny Simonetti, the quarterback for the team. “We come to practice in July, August. We practice as a team, we play as a team. In the championship game, we played as a team and I think that’s important.”
On Nov. 14, the team won the regional championship against the Jersey City Gold Team with a score of 12-6.
Head Coach Frank “Pokey” Cardone, 51, of North Bergen, has coached the Red Raiders since 1979. He said they have won 28 out of their last 29 games, and that their one loss was a scrimmage on a non-regulation field against Westwood, N.J. He also said that other coaches, like Defensive Coach Walter Somick and Offensive Coordinator Nelson Coll, helped the 43 players on the team succeed.
“We’re not just any old city, we all come together.” – Dean Perez
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“There was more teamwork in the beginning, we kind of lost our way in the middle, and the coaches pulled us together and [we] got it back,” said Dean Perez, a halfback and defensive end.
Due to their impressive winning record, the team was scheduled to play in the New Jersey Unlimited Weight Youth Football Association statewide playoffs against a Bridgeton, N.J. recreation team, also a first in the recreation’s 50 year history, said Cardone. If proven successful, they will progress to the state championships this week.
North Bergen rec programs
Many of the players have been involved in North Bergen’s football program for a number of years.
Emmanuel Cordoba, a linebacker and fullback on the team, has been a part of the recreation program for 10 years. He said that football has given him “something to do.”
“Ever since I was young, I was always around the football environment, and since then, that’s where I built up my team leadership skills and all the teamwork, and that’s what we have this time,” said Perez, who has been playing for around nine years. “All the chemistry, the unity…we’re not just any old city, we all come together.”
Justin Gomez, the team’s right guard, said that when players don’t make practice, they are not only hurting themselves but 40 other players.
Many of the players will go on to play football at North Bergen High School.
Finding a friend
Cardone said that the program enables children to find a confidante in coaches, and it also keeps them from other negative influences that might be around them.
“I believe it opens doors for them,” said Fabricio Lopez, a father of a recreation football player. “I didn’t have this when I was a little kid, and I think I probably would have gone a different way when I was younger. In North Bergen, I believe [the recreation programs are] really good, and instead of having kids hanging out on the streets, they’re here doing something positive.”
Simonetti and Gomez said they’ve not only become better football players, but better individuals because of it.
So as they practiced for their championship this past Tuesday, they said they would go into the game as a team.
“We’re just going to come in, give our best game and hopefully we’ll have enough talent to go against these kids,” said Perez.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.