PHOTOS: Young Wolverines Eyeing Strong End to 2011 Season

As the varsity football team , another group of athletes are getting ready for their own kick off. 

's eighth grade football program is about to wrap up their 2011 season on Saturday with a home battle against Nantucket, a team they've played the last two years on the road (Westwood pulled a victory both times). 

The Wolverines (4-4) are coming off a strong road victory last week against Martha's Vineyard, 14-8.

"We won the last minute of the game last week on a 40-yard pass on fourth and nine," said the team's head coach, PJ Vande Rydt during practice on Wednesday. "This week, Nantucket's coming up. They're a pretty good team."

But the young Wolverines are ready for it. After coming back from an 0-3 start to the season, Quarterback Brendan Patterson, who recently moved to Westwood from Ohio, said he's looking to end the season on a strong note. 

"The biggest thing for us this whole season has been to finish with a winning record," said Patterson, 14, who also plays Defensive End. "I think as long as we win this game, everybody will be happy about the season."

While the season ends with Saturday's game, Patterson and teammate Danny McKenney, a Defensive End and Tackle for the Wolverines, will be playing in an upcoming All-Star game against Connecticut as they eye a potential slot in the Football University National Championship.

That event will take place in Westwood on Saturday, Dec. 3 and will comprise two games, one between Massachsuetts and Connecticut and another between Rhode Island and New Hampshire.  

Meanwhile, Assistant Coach Joe Mascia said the eighth grade program is an ideal opportunity for eager players to get ready for a high school career in the sport. Moreover, watching the varsity team under the guidance of new Head Coach Ed Mantie has helped them to learn. 

"It's been good to see them in action, because they're having a tremendous year themselves," said Mascia, who also climbed the ranks of Westwood football, graduating from Westwood High School in 2005.  

"We had nothing like this when I was here," he said. "It's been great for me to see. We want our kids to stay in the system. What's great about this is the kids who weren't able t o play before because of weight limits (in Pop Warner) are able to play." 

Mascia also related a piece of advice he gave to the team at the start of the season: "If you stick together, by the time you're seniors, playing here every Friday night, you're going to be a force to be reckoned with."

The team aims to prove that in Saturday's game.