Vipers, Black Panthers win 2015 PFL titles

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VIPERS 40, AGENTS 20

The Vipers (6-0) claimed the 2015 Senior Division (5th/6th grade Division) championship Saturday evening at Gardner Park.

Rishaun Burns, the league’s leading rusher, had 219 yards on the ground and scored four touchdowns as the Vipers won their 4th title in the last seven years, but their first since 2011.

Jayden LeBeau added 128 yards rushing and a PAT run as Vipers rushed for 367 yards in the contest. Preston Reed added a touchdown run and a PAT run and Cayden Griggs had two PAT runs.

On defense, Jared Seymour had a fumble recovery and Burns also had an interception and long return.

The Agents (3-3) who were the defending champs, jumped out to a 7-0 lead as Traeton Johnson scored the first of his three touchdowns in the contest. Weston Melvin added two PAT runs and 136 yards rushing while Johnson finished with 76 yards on the ground.

The Agents took a 7-0 lead with 90 seconds left in the first quarter to which the Vipers responded with three scores (Burns with two touchdowns and LeBeau with one) in a six minute span during the first and second quarters to take a 19-7 lead into the halftime break.

“I have to give credit to the kids,” Vipers head coach Aaron Pratt said. “And the parents. The parents were great this year. Everybody has supported everything we’ve done. The first part of the year was a lot of conditioning and the kids took to it.

“Everybody called us a track team, because we run so much,” Pratt said. “That’s how we preformed in the fourth quarter when it comes down to it.

“Basically, all year long,” Pratt said. “Great kids; they’re great players. I can’t ask for anything better out of a team. We had no issues at all.

“And, I want to give it up to the Agents for playing a good game tonight,” Pratt said.

“Congratulations to the Vipers for a very good season,” Agents head coach Trent Anderson said. “They were a very tough team. They played assignment football and did a really good job.

“I’d also like to commend my kids,” Anderson said. “We were a little under-sized, but, these guys fought hard. They never gave up this year. And they learned how to play assignment football. They did a lot of great things and they really learned the game along the way. I’m proud of them.

“I’d like to thank my coaches,” Anderson said. Assistant coaches for the Agents were Don Melvin, Blanton Brown and Charlie Wightman.

“These guys did a great job working with the kids this year, getting them prepared and always being there at practice,” Anderson said. “The parents, the grandparents and the guardians that brought the kids to practice, I appreciate them making sure they got there. They were supportive all year and I just really appreciate it. It’s been a great season. It wasn’t the outcome we were looking for, but, it was a great season.”

LONGHORNS 27, RAZORS 0

Longhorns captured 3rd place in the senior division for the 4th year in a row and finished the season (3-3) with a three-game winning streak.

The Horns returned two interceptions (Karson Runk and Korey Rudd) back for touchdowns. Runk also added a 55-yard touchdown run later on. Jason Waters scored a touchdown and had two PAT runs. He led the team in rushing with 113 yards. Kylan Knapp had 48 yards rushing and added a PAT run.

Razors couldn’t get their rushing attack going as 12 of their 17 offensive plays resulted in negative yardage. They finished unofficially with minus 26 net yards. Passing was a different story as Raleigh Haithcock completed three passes for 86 yards.

BLACK PANTHERS 12, BLUE LIONS 0

Despite four turnovers the Black Panthers (6-0) captured their 2nd title in the Junior Division (3rd/4th grade) defeating the Blue Lions. They won in 2008 (5-0) before the playoff game format was started.

Bray Armstrong hit Konner May on the fourth play of the game on a 52-yard pass that put the Panthers ahead 6-0. Armstrong then added a third quarter 1-yard touchdown run for the final score. Walker Glispie had a fumble recovery for the team.

Blue Lions were on the Black Panthers’ end of the field a majority of the contest but couldn’t take advantage of any of the Panthers turnovers. Mason St. Clair had an interception for the White Lions and three players (D.J. Lyons, Isaiah Haithcock, Landon Miller) each had a fumble recovery.

“We had a great bunch of kids and a great group of parents,” Black Panthers head coach Kevin Smith said. “It was rather refreshing after 20 years to come back (and coach again). My grandson is on the team and I was asked to coach the team. (They’re) just a wonderful bunch of kids; a great team. A great family atmosphere with the parents, the cheerleaders and the grandparents.

“It was just a great, wonderful year,” Smith said. “They should be very proud.”

WHITE LIONS 7, GOLD PANTHERS 0

Brady Rohrer had a touchdown run with 3:37 left in the contest and a PAT run by Lafe Coleman was the only scoring in the Junior Division consolation contest.

Coleman set up the winning score with a fumble recovery earlier in the period. Coleman led the team in rushing with 43 yards and Gabriel Perez added 33 more yards on the ground.

For the Gold Panthers, Briar Glipsie led the team with 80 yards rushing.

The Vipers gather in the end zone at Gardner Park following their 40-20 Pony Football League championship win over the Agents Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2015/11/web1_VipersteampicNo2.jpgThe Vipers gather in the end zone at Gardner Park following their 40-20 Pony Football League championship win over the Agents Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. Chris Hoppes | Record-Herald

Rishaun Burns (1) carries for the Vipers during the Pony Football League’s 5th and 6th grade championship game against the Agents Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 at Gardner Park. Burns rushed for 215 yards and four touchdowns for the Vipers. Some of the other players pictured are (l-r); Cayden Griggs (11), Vipers; Cal Wightman (72), Agents; Prestin Edwards (64), Agents; Nate Tackett (62), Vipers; Corey Kennedy (4), Vipers and Reece Self (60), Vipers.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2015/11/web1_RishaunBurnsrunpic10312015.jpgRishaun Burns (1) carries for the Vipers during the Pony Football League’s 5th and 6th grade championship game against the Agents Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 at Gardner Park. Burns rushed for 215 yards and four touchdowns for the Vipers. Some of the other players pictured are (l-r); Cayden Griggs (11), Vipers; Cal Wightman (72), Agents; Prestin Edwards (64), Agents; Nate Tackett (62), Vipers; Corey Kennedy (4), Vipers and Reece Self (60), Vipers. Chris Hoppes | Record-Herald

Traeton Johnson carries for the Agents during the Pony Football League’s 5th and 6th grade championship game against the Vipers Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 at Gardner Park. Johnson scored all three of the Agents’ touchdowns in the game.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2015/11/web1_TraetonJohnsonAgentsrun10312015.jpgTraeton Johnson carries for the Agents during the Pony Football League’s 5th and 6th grade championship game against the Vipers Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 at Gardner Park. Johnson scored all three of the Agents’ touchdowns in the game. Chris Hoppes | Record-Herald

The Black Panthers gather in the end zone at Gardner Park after their 12-0 win over the Blue Lions during the 3rd and 4th grade Pony Football League championship game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2015/11/web1_BlackPanthers3rdand4thgradePFLchamps2015.jpgThe Black Panthers gather in the end zone at Gardner Park after their 12-0 win over the Blue Lions during the 3rd and 4th grade Pony Football League championship game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. Chris Hoppes | Record-Herald

By Randy Young

Special for the Record-Herald &

Chris Hoppes

[email protected]

Reach Chris Hoppes at 740-335-3611, ext. 1104, or on Twitter @choppes1

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