In his time as head coach of the Wareham Tigers Mites youth football team, Joseph Silvia is used to working with “veterans.” This season, he had to “start from scratch” with a team of inexperienced players.

“I kind of wasn’t sure how well they’d do,” Silvia said. “They’re young kids, 8 and 9 years old.”

Silvia managed to turn his crew of third and fourth grade newcomers into an undefeated force this season, and after mauling the West Bridgewater Wildcats 24-6 on Sunday, Nov. 13, the Mites are headed to the Super Bowl — no, not that Super Bowl, but the Old Colony Youth Football League Super Bowl in Sandwich on Sunday, Nov. 20.

The Wareham Tigers Midgets, the team of seventh and eighth graders, will be joining the Mites at the Super Bowl after beating the Sandwich Bulldogs 54-24 Sunday.

“We’ve been here before,” said Midgets Head Coach Walter Crumbley, “so we just have to treat every game like we have throughout the season. Gotta stay focused.”

He credits the victory to the team’s intensity, and is proud of them for playing so well on such a rainy night. Silvia gave a single reason for the Mites’ victory.

“It’s our defense,” he said. “I tell them defense all the time. If they can’t score, they can’t beat us.”

Silvia noted that the Tigers Mites have had fewer points scored against them than any team in the league — 40 in the entire season so far.

“I’m really proud,” he said. “Really good group of kids.”

At the Super Bowl, the Mites will have a rematch with the Bulldogs at 10 a.m., and the Midgets will face the Lower Cape Bluefins at 11:30 a.m.