Jr. Wolverines Showcase Skills at Cordova HS

The played its first game of the season against the Cordova Jr. Lancers at Cordova High School Saturday and for some of the pint-size players, this was their first time playing football.

The local youth football and cheerleading programs from the Rosemont and Rancho Cordova communities showcased their skills with age groups ranging from 14 years old to as young as 5. There were four games played throughout the day featuring different age groups. The groups range from first and second grade, third and fourth grade, fifth and sixth grade and seventh and eighth grade. The Lancers won the Jr. Pee Wee game, pictured above, 25-20.

, who was in attendance at the game, said that the local rivalry between Rosemont and Cordova helps bring both communities together.

“I think this rivalry is good because Cordova and Rosemont are so close together,” Davis said. “Cordova has a long history whereas Rosemont has a short history. The talent in this neighborhood kind of goes back and forth. So it’s good that we keep these kids playing together.”

The goal of this game, Davis said, is for the kids to be a part of an organized event and learn teamwork and working with other kids to play football at an early age.

“I think the experience for these kids is great because they actually get to come out here and do something that is controlled and that they can see their accomplishments on the field and they can do something good as a team,” Davis said. “Team-building is really the most important part of this, learning to work with somebody else on this, work with each other, take criticism and look for praise and that’s one of the most important parts to all of this.”

The Jr. Wolverines program also includes youth cheerleaders who participate and cheer during the games. Davis said that he wants the girls to have the same kind of experience and exposure as the football players do.

“We try not to make it just about football, but we want the little girls to have something to participate in,” Davis said. “We put in emphasis on making sure that the little girls get the same attention that the little boys get because that helps build self-esteem in them.”

With the youth program going up to the eighth grade level, kids would then have to play football at the high school level afterward. Davis said that he would love to see some of the Jr. Wolverines play football for , but that is not the primary goal of the program.

“I would love to see them go to Rosemont because that’s the neighborhood they live in,” Davis said. “To be realistic about it though, I just want plant a seed in these kids heads that they can be whatever they want to be if they try.

“It doesn’t matter if they move to Rosemont or if they move to another state, it matters that they had some men who believed in them, they had men who were positive and talking to them and they believe in themselves, that’s what we’re trying to instill.”

The Jr. Wolverines play seven more season games, a playoff game and then a championship game in Reno. Their next game is Sept. 17 against the Vista Jr. Eagles at Livermore Park in Folsom.