Youngsters get chance to play in Memorial Stadium

Monroe County Youth Football competed in a new venue Monday as the American Football League played its championship game at the IU Memorial Stadium. The AFL consists of over 600 8- to 10-year-old boys from Monroe County. The coaches said it gives the boys a chance to learn discipline and to learn the game of football. \nSteve Hayes, coach of the Ellettsville Firebirds, said the boys are the most important part of the experience. \nThe Firebirds were undefeated at 9-0 on the season when they played the Steelers who were 8-1. The event was supposed to favor the Firebirds, considering the Steelers' only loss was to the Firebirds earlier in the season.\nMark Hays, assistant coach of the Steelers, felt his team would take home the trophy because it plays with a lot of heart. Pike said the Steelers would take it because of their skills. In the end, the Steelers won.\n"We have a pretty strong running game, speed in the back, and power in the middle," Pike said. \nAll the teams in the league aim to play at Memorial Stadium. Dave Umphress, senior vice president of the Monroe County Youth Football Organization, said the event gives the kids a lot to look forward to.\n"It's their Super Bowl," Umphress said. "They come on Saturdays with Mom and Dad to watch the big guys play so this is huge for them." \nHayes told his team on the first practice that the goal was to get to Memorial Stadium. \n"I'm really excited to be here. We had an excellent season at 9-0. We won it outright," Hayes said. \n"Starting, I was not expecting them to play at this level. They play hard and give their best effort." \nMichael Graham said he was happy to be there, and his team deserved it. \n"I feel real good. We've tried as hard as we can to get here all season, and we made it," he said. "We are going to win because we're undefeated and they're not." \nThe start of the game was intense, and in the first quarter both teams, were establishing their running games. The Firebird's assistant coach, Brad Seitzinger, said his team would be guarding against the pass. Michael Bower of the Steelers had a passing game of 25-30 yards which is exceptional for a 10-year-old. \nThe Firebirds are a small team, which gives them a speed advantage. The Steelers goal was to isolate Nolan Rogers, who was one of the stars of the game because his skills helped his team gain yards. Seitzinger praised his team's running game.\n"We are the smallest team in the league, but we're fast, and that helps because we run in extra points," Seitzinger said. \nDuring the second quarter, the Steelers Trae Washington scored the first touchdown of the game and then ran in an extra point putting his team at 7-0. Pike gave Washington credit by calling him a small Kordell Stewart.\n"He can run and pass the ball off ... the options, he's multi-purpose and we like that," he said.\nThe cold weather made for a lot of fumbling and lack of game. The Firebirds were still at zero, and things were not looking good. Umphress said the Firebirds' inability to score was due to the execution of their game. The fourth quarter progressed as the Steeler's made another touchdown. Bower dove into the end zone scoring for his team and allowing them to take home the championship 13-0. Bower said his teamed knew they were going to win.\n"We won because we got heart, as soon as we lost last year we knew we would win," he said.\n-- Contact staff writer Patrice Worthy at pworthy@indiana.edu.