7th & 8th Grade
Team Achievements
2007: NSYFL SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS
2006: Division I Playoffs - 2nd Round
The 2006 squad finished 6-2 in the regular season with loses to the Raiders and Chiefs. Then in the Division I playoffs, the Wolverines were able to get past the Jets for the 2nd time in the 2006 season, however the win would find them playing the Northland Chiefs for the 2nd time in the 2006 on only 2 days rest having had to play on Wednesday then turn around and play again on Saturday. The Chiefs were able to knock off the Wolverines on one of the finest performance by their running back and end the Wolverines season. Despite not making it to the Championship Game, the Wolverines had several things to be proud of including great individual accomplishments by several Wolverines including 8th Grader Joey Cardiff who tied the All-Time Touchdown reception record.
2005: Division II Champions
On a team with only 8 8th Graders altogether and dominated by 7th Graders who had to step up and fill several starting positions, the squad took several bumps throughout the season however as the young 7th Graders began to mature so did the squad. As the postseason approached, the Wolverines began to heat up and finally started firing on all cylinders. Led by 8th Graders AJ Brown and Joe Mike Favoroso, in the first round of the Division II playoffs, the Wolverines and Packers squared off in another nail-biter which saw the Wolverines win 20-14. Then in the Division II Championship Game, the Wolverines faced off against the Pirates in an epic confrontation which was back and forth the entire game and finally saw the Wolverines win and take home their 3rd Division II Championship in the last 8 years.
2004: Division I Playoffs
The 2004 season began the same way it would END with a head-to-head showdown between the 2003 SUPER Bowl Champion Jets. The Wolverines and Jets met briefly in the championship game of the Tommy Simone Tournament, however an injury cancelled the game. However the season did not start off as promising as the Wolverines would have hoped as the Wolverines dropped their first 3 games. After regrouping, the Wolverines would go on to win their next 5 games which allowed them to qualify for the Division I Playoffs for the first time in Wolverines 7th & 8th Grade history. Despite scoring the most points of any team all year against the 2004 SUPER Bowl Champion Jets in that game, the Wolverines would fall short 32-20 thus ending the best season the Wolverines have had to date. Several players walked away leaving their mark on the program as All-Time records were set by QB Jimmy Smelcer and WR Joe Carl Occhipinto with RB Chuckie Malaponte setting single season records along with FB Ethan McAtee.
2003: Injury Plagued
The 2003 season produced the most talented 7th & 8th Grade Wolverines squad to date however could be labeled as the "What if" season. The Wolverines finished the regular season 5-3 and out of those 3 losses (Jets, Sharks, Raiders) the Wolverines did not have a full roster once. 8th Grade Tailback Jeff Cunningham missed 2 of the 3 games which forced the Wolverines to use all 7th Graders in the backfield. Things did not get much better in the Division II playoffs as 6 starters would be out for the Wolverines playoff game against the Chiefs. The Wolverines found themselves using their 3rd team quarterback and all 7th Graders in the backfield as injuries crippled the Wolverines. The Wolverines beat the Chiefs 26-6 in Game 1 of the regular season but would fall 6-0 in the Division II Playoffs.
2002: Division II Champions
After starting the season 0-3, the Wolverines closed out the regular season 3-5 and qualified for the Division II Playoffs. The Wolverines faced the Packers in the Division II Championship game.
In Game 2 of the regular season, the Wolverines loss to the Packers 40-0 at Englewood Park. However in the Division II Championship game the Wolverines would avenge that loss by defeating the Packers 28-0 to win the Division II Championship. The Wolverines defense which was used and abused at the beginning of the season shutout the Packers and did not even allow a single first down. 2003 Co-MVPs Mikal Galich and Ronald Groves had outstanding games as Tailback D. Worthington rushed for 2 touchdowns. The Wolverines finished the year 5-5 and improved greatly from the start of the season.
2001: Division II Runner Ups
The Wolverines finished the regular season 4-4 and once again found themselves in the Division II playoffs. The Wolverines made it to the Division II Championship game where they would eventually fall to the Packers 28-16. A notable win in 2001 was the Wolverines Game 1 overtime win against the Marauders. In the Division II playoffs, the Wolverines would
beat the Marauders again 50-32 to advance to the Division II Championship Game.
2000: Division II Champions
The Wolverines finished the regular season 5-3 and tied for 4th place and played a tie-breaker playoff game with the Marauders. The Marauders had beaten the Wolverines handly in Game 2 of the regular season 40-12, however the Wolverines played much tougher in this game and would lose the game with less then a minute left as they fell 28-32. Despite the loss, Wolverines 2 time MVP Rico Morgan played as if he was a man amongst boys. Rico ran back a kickoff and scored on two separate pass plays and had one touchdown called back which would have given the Wolverines the lead. After the loss to the Marauders, the Wolverines entered the Division II playoffs and went on to capture their first Division II Championship.
1999: New Era Begins
1999 would be the first year for Head Coach Jim Tuso. The 7th & 8th Grade Wolverines had yet to win a game in 7th & 8th Grade competition until Jim Tuso had come aboard as Head Coach. Tuso along with his brother Joe Tuso took 25 inexperienced players and rallied them to win 3 games his first year. That 1999 team was led by 2003 All-District players for Winnetonka High School John Erorogwu and Adrian Singletary, Oak Park High School's Travis Rowden, and Park Hill South's Tony Graves.
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