By Anthony Williams, Special Writer
Fresh off its season ending banquet, the Bordentown Bulldogs Youth Football Organization is wasting no time rounding up the troops for next season — hoping to build upon the momentum of last season’s success.
On Jan. 19, the Bulldogs organization hosted more than 400 players, coaches, and family members for a banquet breakfast at Bordentown Regional High School to celebrate the success of their teams in the West Jersey Youth Football League, but spent little time dwelling on the past and focused on their future.
Bordentown Regional High School Head Coach Steve Perry led off a trio of guest speakers, including former NFL players Kevin Johnson (Cleveland Brown, Baltimore Ravens) and Bill Burnham (Oakland Raiders), and wasted little time highlighting the effects the youth program has had on the high school’s recent success and stressed the importance of getting a head start at the youth level.
”The reason for a lot of our success can be directly attributed to the work being done at the youth level,” Coach Perry said. “The kids are learning the basic skills of football like how to tackle, get in a good stance, and catch the ball. If you come to me with those skills, you give yourself a great opportunity to play, and we get to spend more time coaching Xs and Os.”
The extra time teaching the strategy of the game has paid off greatly, as Bordentown reached the playoffs this past season for the first time in three decades.
The Bulldogs are hoping to continue feeding the high school well trained football players prepared to join the varsity team the moment they step foot into Bordentown Regional as freshmen. The Bulldogs will be hosting its annual Super Bowl sign-up for players and cheerleaders on Sunday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Carslake Community Center on Crosswicks Street.
Any child between the ages of 4 and 14 can register at this event and get a head start on the 2013 season, which includes a discounted registration fee. Bordentown freshmen, under 130 pounds, who are not participating on the high school team can also sign up.
The Bulldogs not only want to improve on its four playoff appearances by the 80, 95, 110, and 130 lbs. teams, but members are hoping to generate enough interest to field an unlimited team in the 2013 season.
In order to begin discussions on forming a team, the Bulldogs need a minimum of 15 registrants at this event.
The formation of an unlimited team would continue to see Bordentown Football grow to new heights.
Last year the team was the second largest organization in the WJYFL with 116 players, just two years after being the second smallest organization in South Jersey Independent Youth Football League.
Much of the Bulldogs success can be directly tied to the tireless work of former president Jeff Ellershaw, current Vice-President Werner Nitschmann, and the best concession stand operator this side of the Delaware River Debbie Mallard. The three of them have worked on bringing Bordentown Football into prominence and need more parent assistance to make next season an even better experience.
Last year’s Super Bowl sign-up yielded approximately 80 registrants, and organization president Mike Smith hopes to see an increase in interest after having two teams go undefeated in the regular season.
Any parent interested in registering their child or helping out for the 2013 fall season can visit www.bordentownbulldogs.org for more information.