Patriot Squads Reach Super Bowl

Jaren Lubrono (21) had 100 yards in the Patriot junior varsity team’s championship win.

As of Friday, November 11, 2011

Two teams from the local Sandhills Patriots youth football organization have earned berths in the Piedmont Youth Football League Super Bowl games.

The Patriots junior varsity team (ages 10-11) faces the Fayetteville Buccaneers at 3 p.m. Saturday at Vance High School in Charlotte, while the Patriots varsity squad (ages 12-13) faces the Fayetteville Buccaneers at 6:45 p.m. at the same location.

It is the third year in a row that the varsity squad has reached the Super Bowl. Over that three-year period, the varsity squad has gone 31-0, including 8-0 this season, and won two Super Bowls.

The jayvee team, which is 9-1, defeated the Buccaneers 22-6 the first time they played each other. To reach the Super Bowl, the Patriot jayvees knocked off the New Birth Steelers in the AFC championship game. In that contest, the Patriot offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage, while running back Jaren Lubrono rushed for 100 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Patriot jayvee defense, led by Marquez Baxter, Langdon McFay and Kyle Ehlers, shut down the Steelers offense. The jayvee squad lead the PYFL in points scored while also allowing the fewest points scored this season.

The Patriot jayvees’ running attack has been led by Labrono and Qu’Darian Kelly. Quarterback Nick Pry has thrown multiple touchdown passes to tight end Dylan Gray, and receivers Ryan Ayers and Fulton Smith. On defense, Mason Wagner, Charles Justice, Garret Clark and Tanner Benton have all made significant contributions.

Seven Patriot jayvee players were selected to the PYFL All-Pro team, including Pry, Lubrano, McFay, Justice, Kelly, Gray and Baxter.

The Patriot varsity team (ages 12-13) defeated the Richmond County Packers 20-6 in earning its third consecutive trip to the PYFL Super Bowl.

In their first meeting, the Patriots defeated the Buccaneers 32-22 in a close and hard-fought context.

In the victory over the Packers, the Patriots were led by quarterback Jaylen Dickerson, who passed for one touchdown and ran for another.

Also making significant contributions on the offensive side of the ball were tight end Griffin Baker, on the receiving end of Dickerson’s 60-yard touchdown pass, and running backs Carson Maples, Sam Williams and Thomas Dean. The Patriot offensive line performed admirably in the absence of captain Sam Fetla, who was unable to play because of an injury.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Patriots were led by Sean Pollard, David Bortins, Kross Ratliff and Keegan Good. The varsity team defeated the Illumination Titans in the first round of the playoffs before defeating the Packers.

During the season, Dickerson and Zach Martinez have shared the quarterback duties and Maples, Williams, Dean and Ratliff have led the Patriots’ powerful running attack. In the team’s passing attack, Crash Burns, Chris Owens, Baker and Ayinde McKnight have been on the receiving end of multiple passes.

Several varsity players were named to the PYFL All-Pro team, including Fetla, Maples, Williams, Dickerson, McKnight, Bortins, Ratliff, Burns and Good.

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Ratzo 1 year, 6 months ago

The PYFL web page states that the Sandhills Patriots varsity team beat its own Sandhills Patriots-B team in the first game of the playoffs by the score of 35 to 6.

BrerRabbit 1 year, 6 months ago

I'm not sure what your point is, but what you stated is indeed correct. The PYFL league commissioner initially promised that the two Patriot squads would not play against one another but it happened twice.Coach Remmington did a fine job preparing the Blue team this season and lots of these same kids will be solid, football players on the White team in 2012 if they can earn their spot.

The most important things to take away from this season are that we are undefeated, "three-peat" Super Bowl Champions who have never lost to Richmond County or the Fayetteville team that we beat in the regular season and the Super Bowl. This is the same Fayetteville team that destroyed everyone in its path against the Optimist league competition in our area in 2010.

The JV team also won the Super Bowl as well this year. This is a winning program teaching winning ways in our area. My hats off to the dedicated coaching staff and all of the Sandhills players- Blue, White, Preps, and the JV. The future looks bright for Patriot football!

Ratzo 1 year, 6 months ago

My point was only to correct a statement that was incorrect. I'm glad to hear that the Varsity and JV squads won their Super Bowls. I hope the Pilot posts some details.

mooremb3034 1 year, 6 months ago

Interesting comment, "...This is the same Fayetteville team that destroyed everyone in its path against the Optimist league competition in our area in 2010." It would be interesting to hear the thoughts that possibly the reason they did so well is that the Optimist League, as well as every other Tackle Football leage in Moore County is fractured by the fact that we have so many leagues. This means that we cannot offer a consolidated, well run program to the county that gives ALL the kids who wish to play, an equal opportunity and are not a few hand-picked by a few. This year, the Opimists were only able to field a few teams and at the 10-12 level, only had two teams that had to play each other every single Saturday. Here's something else to consider: All three County High School teams had losing records (some worse than others). Could it be that is because we have NO feeder system in this County? I'm glad to see the Pilot covered the Patriots...too bad they couldn't cover any Optimist games which pitted County kids against County kids.

BrerRabbit 1 year, 6 months ago

Yes, all three teams had poor seasons but do we want to change this or just keep doing the same thing netting the same results?

There are "open" tryouts for the Sandhills Patriots football team it's no big secret to exclude the masses- just like All Star baseball- not everyone makes the team. This is not exactly a new concept in Moore Co. but I am beginning to believe football is.

What Union Pines and North Moore need to do is find some leaders and parents to organize teams to compete with the Sandhill Patriots pitting County boys against each other. Why did Richmond Co. and a Fayetteville team join the PYFL? To get better. I'd love to see Hoke, Scotland, and maybe Harnett join up and forget about Mecklenburg county.

I realizee not everyone cares about football. I understand that- baseball and soccer are currently more organized and leading the race in their individual sports. That's great news. There is no reason for civil unrest due to an area "travel" football team doing well in the area. You don't hear outcries to stop soccer and baseball travel teams. They have been feeding our area high schools for years. I don't understand the issue here.

JustThinking 1 year, 6 months ago

What Union Pines and North Moore need to do.........Is participate in the Sandhills Patriots try-outs next year. According to VanCamp, try-outs are open to all kids in the community. Right? That is what he stated in an earlier post on the matter. Whatever! Coach Remington and Lipomi did indeed do a fine job with the kids on the B team. But according to VanCamp, it wasn't really a "B". Team???? He could have been forthright about the 2nd team from the start! Really, Mr. VanCamp, that would have been okay to do. None the less, the Organization itself has good intentions and the kids and coaches are all do a GREAT job!