Warriors End Special Run with Third National Title

by Joel Balthaser, Pop Warner
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL. – If there is such a thing as a Pop Warner Dynasty...the White Oak Warriors are the closest thing to it. 

Playing with the same core group of guys for the last three years, most of whom will be moving on to high school football, head coach John Vassos' team of Junior Midgets capped of their Pop Warner careers by winning a third consecutive Pop Warner Super Bowl championship.

“The whole week was a highlight,” said Vassos. "We've had most of these kids for three years, the highlight was seeing these kids finish of their (Pop Warner) careers in youth football in good fashion. This is a first-class event and they're a first class team."

Similar to the 2009 Division I Midget Champion, White Oak also hasn't been defeated in two years. Correction, White Oak hasn't lost a game in three years, compiling an unblemished 46-0 record over that span.

"Most of us, this is our last year...and I love those guys," said Terrence Jones, a four-year member of the White Oak Warriors.

"(The Pop Warner Super Bowl) has been such a great accomplishment and experience for all of us something that we always can look back and be proud of," commented quarterback Gaston Cooper, who threw for 21 touchdowns in three years at the helm of the Warriors. " I wish that every athlete could come to compete and take a swim in December..." 

White Oak had little trouble this year collecting their third consecutive trophy, running away from three teams by a combined score of 103-12. And last year...a similar outcome. The Warriors won their three games en route to the Pee Wee Championship by outscoring their opponents 98-6. And the year before that...how about 61-0!

And maybe even more impressive is the dignity and class they play the game with, and it all stems from team unity.

"We're very much like a family, we spend a lot of time together on and off the field," added Vassos. "We love each other, and I don't think you can find another group of people that's as close as us."

It's hard to argue with coach Vassos on that one, and it's even harder to argue that White Oak has been anything but impressive in the last three years at the Pop Warner Super Bowl. It should also be noted that another group from White Oak, the Jr. Pee Wee team, collected the national title by also not allowing a single point, 89-0, back in 2008.

It's true that most of the players from this incredible championship team will be moving on in their playing careers. However, I think it's pretty safe to say that White Oak will be heard from again at the Pop Warner Super Bowl in years to come.

View Photos from the 2009 Jr. Midget Championship Game