TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Patriots Upset Bucs In Final

ADVERTISEMENT

By DAREK SHARP, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2007

PLANT CITY - If the Patriots beat the Bucs in the NFL, no big deal. But when it happened Nov. 3 in the finals of the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department/Optimist Youth Flag Football program, it was news.

The Bucs came into the finals undefeated, but lost 24-12 to the Patriots in the championship game of the Elite League, ages 13 to 15. Also crowned champions by winning their respective tournaments were the Broncos of the Senior League, ages 8 to 9, and Titans of the Premier League, ages 10 to 12.

All three championship contests were decided by double digits. The Broncos beat the Steelers 28-14 and the Titans topped the Lions 30-14. At 9-0-1 the Broncos finished with the best record in any age group.

In games that were played in the first three weeks of the regular season, the Bucs beat the Patriots 6-0 and 32-14. But those were the only blemishes on the Patriots' record and they cruised into a rematch by winning their Elite semifinal game against the Colts 36-8. Kael Woods ran for two touchdowns and Matthew Parker ran for one touchdown and threw another to Tyler Packanik. In the Bucs' 12-6 semifinal win over the Rams, Kaidrick Richardson threw a pair of touchdowns to Connor Kitchens.

Parker was a busy man for the Patriots (7-2) in the title match. He ran for a touchdown, threw a touchdown pass to Travis Ciccarello and was on the receiving end of a Ciccarello scoring strike. Parker and Ciccarello also both hit Paul Rife on two-point conversions. For the Bucs (7-1-1) Richardson ran for a touchdown and passed to Josh Davis for the other score.

For the Titans, who won the Premier League with a 9-1 record, the closest tournament game ended up being their first one. After edging the Vikings 20-14 in overtime, the Titans cruised in the Nov. 1 semifinal by beating the Eagles 24-6. Kristen Wyckoff scored three touchdowns, one on a punt return, and the Titans achieved a rarity by converting all three of their points after touchdowns. Matthew Mutert had the lone score for the Eagles, who finished 5-3-1.

In the other semifinal, the Lions (5-2-2) got past the Falcons 6-0. Austin Baxter's touchdown pass to Troy Jahn provided the only points.

Both Premier semifinal losers had rolled in their first-round contests. The Eagles beat the Chiefs 25-6 as Cade Kelley scored on two touchdown runs and passed to Hunter Shuff for a third score. Clifford Martin was in on four touchdowns, two by way of interceptions, as the Falcons beat the Saints 34-8.

The Titans' offense kept producing in the Nov. 3 final. Harrison Heysek hit Wyckoff for one touchdown on a pass and caught a touchdown pass from brother Spencer, who also ran for a touchdown and found brother Alex on a point after touchdown pass. Tristan Dabney ran for a touchdown, as well. Will Hippler and Jamie Beasley scored the Lions' touchdowns.

In the Senior League finale, the Broncos got touchdowns from four players, all on runs: Charles Box III, Steven Bartlett, Jared Short and Lauren Daly. Trevor Violett and Matthew Wurthamann had the Steelers' touchdowns.

Bartlett had three touchdowns in a tight semifinal victory over the Chargers, 25-19. Jacob Holt, Zachary Cross and Christopher Macca scored touchdowns for the Chargers.

In the other semifinal the Steelers (7-1-1) defeated the Jaguars 24-14. Violett scored three touchdowns.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampa trib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT