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Youth Flag Football Program Is Off And Running

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By DAREK SHARP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 24, 2008

PLANT CITY - The more than 40-year-old Plant City Recreation and Parks Department/Optimist youth flag football program kicked off its new season Sept. 13 at Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex.

Twenty-eight teams in five age groups are taking part in the 42nd season of the league, which stresses sportsmanship and having fun.

Four teams compete in the program's Munchkin League: the Ducks, Mice, Monkeys and Squirrels. No scores are kept in the league for 4- and 5-year-olds.

The Junior League, for ages 6 and 7, had a couple of close games in its first weekend. Sam Heysek scored on two touchdown runs, and Lindsey Smith scored also as the Wildcats defeated the Pilgrims 18-13. Chandra Pletcher scored both touchdowns for the Pilgrims. Also the Bobcats edged the Frogs 19-14 getting touchdowns from three players, Hendon Haley, Carlton Kelly Jr. and Aaron Straka. Brenton Ruedeman had two touchdown runs in the Rabbits' 20-0 victory over the Indians.

There was the extreme rarity in the Senior League, for 8- and 9-year-olds, as the Dolphins and Steelers played to a scoreless tie. The Chargers edged the Jaguars 20-19. Deandre Reaves scored two touchdowns for the winners, and David Matt Byars had a touchdown and the decisive point-after run. Robert Xaypanya scored twice for the Jags.

Also Benji Padgett contributed two touchdown runs in the Broncos' 19-14 defeat of the Bears.

The biggest league in terms of teams, with, eight, is the Premier, for 10- to 12-year-olds. The premier offense in the league's first week was the Vikings, who blanked the Rams 33-0. Austin J. Johnson was in the middle of many scores, throwing for one to Seth Sullivan, catching a touchdown pass from Dylan Tice, running back an interception for six points and chipping in a two-point conversion pass.

Elsewhere, Dakota Benton scored two touchdowns in the Chiefs' 18-13 win over the Cowboys; Chad Lower, Steven Bartlett and Cade Kelley posted the touchdowns as the Panthers beat the Saints 22-16; and the Eagles got touchdowns form Daniel Blair, Daniel Coleman and Daniel White in a 26-14 win over the Titans.

The highest scoring game came in the Elite League, for 13- to 15-year-olds, where the Bucs won a shootout with the Colts 30-24. Robby Knox threw for a pair of touchdowns and recorded a safety. Also the Jets beat the Patriots 16-8.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampa

trib.com.

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