7th Grade Flyers Win NE Football Championship, Off to Nationals [Video]

By Coach Jason Smith

In a game that would come down to the last play of the game, the won the New England Regional Championship, by beating the Hartford CT Wildcats 44-38. The win sends the B Team to the National Tournament in Orlando next week.

It has been the most remarkable season I have ever been a part of. These kids are a special group of kids that have really come together to form a true football family. We have the most AMAZING FANS that care about these kids, not only family and friends but several fans from the Bay State have been there to cheer us on; and for that, we so appreciate it.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to take these kids to Florida. And that is the coaching staffs' job now, to get them ready to play there.

In Saturday's game, the Framingham offense took the lead when Edrick Bodley ran for a 24-yard touchdown to cap off a 67-yard drive behind two key blocks by Anthony Parisi and Marcus Elysee. Danny Bicalho added the 2-point kick and the Flyers led 8-0.

The Hartford CT Wildcats fought back and scored a touchdown. They ran the ball for their first touchdown, making the score 8-7 Flyers.

The Flyers then drove the ball 84 yards down the field, led by offensive linemen Jimmy Santiago, Simon Stock, Josh Davis, Ifeanyi Egesi, Christian Dardompre, Anthony Parisi and Marcus Elysee. Running back Bodley scored his second touchdown of the game, when he broke four tackles and cut the ball back through the middle of the field to make the score 14 to 7 Flyers.

The Flyers defense came up big in the second quarter when defensive tackles Jimmy Santiago, Jake Blummer and Shaheer Sutton penetrated the line to make a key stop on fourth and four. The Flyers ended the half leading 14-7.

At the start of the third quarter, runningback Charles James ripped off two runs of 31 yards, scoring his first touchdown of the game when he blew up the middle of the defensive line running over two players. Flyers now up 20-7.

The Hartford Wildcats scored on their next drive to close the lead to 20-13.

Alex Useloff, Zack Siegel and Gavin Maldonado all played well for the Flyers on defense.

With the Flyers facing a third and 16 from their own 23 yard line, Jose Mullins, Mike Stournaras, Tonee Diaz, Jimmy Mancini and Will Mellusi had keys blocks on a reverse play, that allowed Bodley to capture a first down with 17 yards.

On the next play, Orlando Rosario made a crushing block that sprung James for a 34-yard run.

That was a real momentum builder for the Flyers, as on the next play, Bodley cut back not once or twice but three times to avoid the Wildcats defenders and score his third touchdown of the game. Bicalho added the 2-point kick giving the Flyers a 28-13 lead.

But the Wildcats ran the kick back 75 yards to the Flyers 29-yard line and then punched in another touchdown to close the lead to 28-20.

Then the Flyers offense drove the ball 65 yards and scored when James ripped through three defensive players off great blocks from Joe Tolson and Marcus Elysee to spring James for his second touchdown of the game. Bicalho added the 2-point kick giving the Flyers a 36-20 lead, for now.

The Flyers could not stop the Wildcats on third and 7; and the Wildcats scored on a busted run to the outside, closing the Flyers led to 36-10.

The Wildcats couldn't find a way to stop the Flyers offense. Bodley scored his fourth touchdown run of the game to give the Flyers a 44-26 lead.

The Wildcats came back with a touchdown of their own to close the lead to 44-32.

The Flyers turned the ball over on downs and the Wildcats were back on the field. With about 4 minutes left, the Wildcats dropped back for a pass and cornerback Simon Stock intercepted the ball and ran it down to the 5 yard line.

On the next play, the Flyers fumbled the ball.

The Wildcats had the ball on the 4-yard line and needed to drive 96 yards for a score. Defensive end Christian Dardompre and linebacker Kenny Butterfeld sacked the quarterback on the inch-yard line.

On the next play, the Wildcats quarterback hit their wide receiver on a seam route in the middle of the field and took it 99 yards for the score to cut the Flyers lead to just 6 points. Flyers led 44-38.

With just under a minute to play, the Wildcats were successful with an onside kick and went back on the offensive.

On the Wildcats' first play, defensive tackles Jimmy Santiago, Shaheer Sutton, Jake Blummer and linebacker Kenny Butterfeld stopped the Wildcats in the backfield to make it 2nd down and 14 yards to go.

On the next play, the Wildcats quarterback dropped back to pass and threw a seam pass, the same pass the Wildcats used to score earlier in the quarter; but this time safety Orlando Rosario picked off the pass to end the game.

The Flyers won 44-38 and are the 2011 New England Regional Champions. The win sends the Framingham B team to the national playoffs in Florida.

The Flyers offense, which could not be stopped, was lead by running back Bodley (254 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns) and James (214 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns).

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These New England Champion Framingham Flyers NOW NEED YOUR HELP!

The cost of taking the whole team to Florida for next week’s (Dec. 3-10) American Youth Football National Championship will cost about $45,000. 

Cost include airfare, hotel, meals and ground transportation, as well as a tutor to help them with their homework while they are away from school.
 
Please help us send these seventh graders to Florida. 

Donations can be brought to at 500 Worcester Rd. in Framingham or to Shoes to Dye For, 1400 Worcester Rd. in Natick.

Donations can be mailed to Framingham Youth Football and Cheering, PO Box 894, Framingham, MA 01701.

is a recognized Masachusetts 501(c)3 organization.
 
If any business or individual has questions about the fundraising campaign, please contact Framingham Youth Football and Cheerleading President Ron Vallely at 508-872-4970
or zuval@aol.com

Jason Smith is the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the team.