Youth football teams scrimmage visiting districts at jamboree
Nikko Morris knew what he had to do when his Jr. Pee Wee football team began its game against Fairhaven on August 21. With the football in hand, he dodged the defending Blue Devils to make the touchdown in the end zone.
Even though there was no scorekeeper at the Dartmouth Youth Football League’s annual jamboree scrimmage, the crowd still erupted in cheers as Morris brought the ball in. After the game, Morris was excited to have participated in the scrimmage.
“The jamboree is great. We get to face off against other teams and see how we play,” Morris said.
The Football Jamboree is an annual tradition for Dartmouth’s five youth football teams, according to league President Jeff Sylvia. He said the preseason scrimmage gives teams a chance to test out what they have been working on over the past three weeks in training.
"It’s a good opportunity for the kids to play other teams instead of themselves [in the preseason],” Sylvia said. “After three hard weeks [of training], we finally get to play meaningful games.”
During the Football Jamboree, every one of Dartmouth’s youth football teams took on teams from Fairhaven, Old Rochester, and Portsmouth. Each team played in two, 30-minute games, alternating between offense and defense halfway through each game.
As each game went on, coaches were taking careful inventory of their teams in addition to their usual coaching duties, using the opportunity to see how they compete.
“It’s very beneficial for me and my boys,” said Jr. Pee Wee coach Michael Murphy Sr. “It lets me see what adjustments we need to make.”
The jamboree also provided Dartmouth’s three youth cheerleading teams the chance to run through their routines—and provide pep throughout the jamboree.
“It builds their confidence. They get a chance to bond,” said Cheer Coordinator Ann Davis, adding that so far the cheerleading teams have learned about half of their cheers, and will continue to practice next week.
The Dartmouth Youth Football League will kick off its regular season on August 28 with an away game against Portsmouth.
