Green Hornets Football Team Claims AAYFA Championship

The Severna Park Green Hornets 9U tackle football team won the 2023 Anne Arundel Youth Football Association national championship at North County High School by beating the South County Bulldogs 18-6 on November 12.

The team — coached by Matt Bruffey, Chris DeLuca, Eric Shadowens and Monte Hausmann — capped a 9-1 season by avenging their only loss and ending South County’s bid for an undefeated record.

Led by quarterback Michael Duffy, the offense scored on the opening drive as running back Blake Tomago punched in the first touchdown behind stout blocking from left tackle Liam Cooke, left guard Beau Bruffey, center Grady Shadowens, right guard Joey Potocek and right tackle Aiden Cooke.

After the Bulldogs turned it over on the next possession, running back Austin Hausmann took the first snap 70 yards to the house for the second touchdown of the game. On the last possession before the half, the offense methodically moved the ball downfield behind strong play from fullback Marco DeLuca, tight end Bryce Arnold and wide receiver Nico Durastanti, which culminated in a second touchdown by Tomago. The Green Hornets ended the half up 18-0.

That would be all the scoring needed as the Green Hornets defense dominated the Bulldogs in the second half of the game. The defensive line of Aiden Cooke, Liam Cooke, Caleb Missimore and Joey Potocek lived in the opponent’s backfield, while linebackers Bryce Arnold, Blake Tomago and Marco DeLuca swarmed to the ball. The defensive backfield patrolled by Austin Hausmann, Ryan Berger, Connor Wild and Nico Durastanti shut down the Bulldogs’ passing game as time wound down. Xander Bancroft, Milo Bullough, Dominic DiBitetto, Charles Shaffer, Kieran Sowa, Sylias Purdham and Luke Youngs also contributed to the defense’s second-half efforts. To cap off the victory, Brooks Reineck came off injured reserve and is fully healthy.