Outlaw Widgets Football Coach Simonson Says: Let's Be Super

A super season ends with a trip to the Super Bowl for the Oak Lawn Outlaws.

The Outlaw Widgets (11-12 year-olds) will face the Mt. Greenwood Colts at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Toyota Park in a Metro League youth football championship game in Bridgeview. Toyota Park is home of the Chicago Fire, a professional MLS soccer club.

“This will be the first appearance in the Super Bowl for any level of Outlaw football since 2004,” Oak Lawn coach Curtis Simonson said. “I don’t believe they have ever had a championship, but we are going to do our best to be the first.”

The Outlaws head into the title game with a 10-0 record and a cast of contributors that runs the gamut from offense to defense and special teams. Simonson calls running back/linebacker Phazione McClurge “one of the most dynamic young athletes in the area.”

McClurge has scored 26 touchdowns—and had 10 others called back because of penalties. He is not only a good player, but also a good student. He was named “Student of the Month” at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School.

Some other Widgets to watch: Justin Fekete (TE/DE), Derick Gonsch (C/DT), Ray Mason (FB/LB), Kameron McNicholas (TE/DT) and Mike Lanigan (LB). All five are second-year players and serve as team captains.

“These captains have really been a great example to our first-year guys on how to play the game at a high level,” Simonson said.

Johnny Bean, a 10-year-old, plays quarterback for the Outlaws. Other starters include Dylan Summers, Nick Warren, Marty Cosgrove, Onon Simonson, Donald Ott and Coby Brown.

“With (more than) 40 players on the roster, we have so many players contribute to the success of our team,” Simonson said. “The Outlaw organization is a top-notch football program that is run by some hard-working people who donate their time and energy into giving these kids a positive experience. I can’t say enough about all they do.”