PITTSTON — Traffic stopped on Main Street and Kennedy Boulevard on Saturday, Oct. 29 as the triumphant Pittston Jr. Patriots football A-Team was honored with a parade for its recent victory against GAR Heights Jr. Grenadiers, capturing the Wyoming Valley Junior Football Conference Super Bowl trophy.
The lead vehicle of the parade had mounted speakers playing the Queen song, “We are the Champions” along the route. The Jr. Patriots D-Team was also honored as the runner-up in its Super Bowl contest.
The A-Team narrowly defeated the Jr. Grenadiers on Sunday, Oct. 23 at Crestwood High School’s stadium in Mountain Top with a score of 16-12.
“It was a great fall game,” said John Symons Sr., the vice president of the Jr. Patriots’ organization.
Symons’ son, John Jr., scored all of the Jr. Patriots’ points with two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions.
“This program is building up and we are hoping more kids will come out next year,” said Symons Sr.
A-Team Head Coach Chris Price’s team compiled a 9-1-season record before entering the Super Bowl. Price, 25, is the youngest head coach to garner a Super Bowl victory.
“It was the best season I’ve ever coached,” Price said. “These kids put in the most work I’ve ever see any team put in and they really deserved this championship – every one of them.”
Laura Tucker, Pittston, mother of two D Team players, 7-year-old twins Joseph and Jaden Baloga, enjoyed the parade celebration.
“With the Super Bowl, they were very excited,” Tucker said. “They put a lot of hard work and dedication for it so once they won the playoff game, they were all ecstatic. There were excited about the parade and they love being together with the team; it’s all so much fun.”
The D-Team lost to Plains Yankees, 12-8, in its Super Bowl bid.
Symons Sr. acknowledged the City of Pittston for helping make the parade possible.
An end-of-the-year football banquet will be held Sunday, Dec. 11 at the Woodlands Inn & Resort honoring the entire Jr. Patriot program.
