Green Chargers learn super lessons

Mike Sciacca

Despite heading to Florida short-handed due to injuries, the

Huntington Beach Jr. Midget Green Chargers came back to Surf City

having gained invaluable experience.

The squad -- the first from Huntington Beach Pop Warner to compete

at the National Super Bowl Tournament -- was in Lake Buena Vista,

Fla., to play two tournament games at the Disney Wide World of Sports

Complex.

“The trip was unbelievable, both for the parents and players,” Jr.

Midget Green Chargers head coach Rhett Heckel said. “We came into the

tournament short-handed and even had a few players sick. Had we been

completely healthy, we would have been more competitive.

“Still, I’m proud of the kids. They did a great job and enjoyed a

great experience.”

Huntington Beach opened the tournament against the Pine Hills

Trojans of Florida and lost, 34-8.

Cole Tischer connected with William Andrews on a double-pass play

for the Jr. Midget Green Chargers’ lone touchdown.

At the start of the second quarter, Huntington lost starting

quarterback Garrett Heckel to injury.

Garrett Heckel, who also handled punting chores and played

defensive end, was blind-sided on a play early in the period.

Tailback Alex Mascarenas , who Rhett Heckel called an “incredible

back,” played with a broken arm and wore an elbow-to-wrist cast.

Tight end Jonathan Little had injured his knee three weeks before

the tournament, but still played, he said.

The eight points were the most scored on the Trojans this season.

“They were the best football team I’ve seen this year,” Rhett

Heckel said of Pine Hills, which went on to claim the division’s

national championship.

Huntington Beach next played the Dorchester Eagles of Dorchester,

Mass.

The Jr. Midget Green Chargers were defeated, 50-22.

Mascarenas scored on a sweep and Michael VanDeripe, playing at

quarterback, threw touchdown passes to Tischer and Nicholas Watt.

Huntington did not have the services of wide out Derrick Romo or

defensive end and top lineman Stephan Robb for the second game. Both

got sick on the trip and didn’t play against the Eagles.

The Jr. Midget Green Chargers, who qualified for the National

Super Bowl Tournament by winning the Western Conference Regional

championship, also are comprised of Chance Ross, Christopher Siebel,

Bradley Grunbaum, Brandon Visnoski, Scott Marcin, Anders Torgersen,

Dave Folger, Donald Sneed, Quintin Schoonmaker, Bijohn Samoodi, Danny

Samarin III, Dustin Kuhn and Michael Bogard.

Assistant coaches are Dan Schoonmaker, Dave Tischer, John Siebel,

Dave Folger, James Watt and Tom Torgersen.

Huntington Beach and the Santa Margarita Pee Wee Division Pop

Warner team were the first Orange Empire Conference teams in 27 years

to qualify for the national tournament, said Cyndi Stolze, Huntington

Beach Pop Warner board of directors member.