FITCHBURG — Although they didn’t end up winning the tournament, the young athletes on the two Central Mass Gators coed travel youth flag football teams gave it their all during the recent Summer Kickoff Classic AAU Junior Olympic Games Qualifier at Game On Fitchburg.
“We had a tryout just two months ago and to have these kids already competing for the Junior Olympics is so exciting. It was an awesome time, I’m so proud of these kids,” said Brandon Hamilton, head coach of the Central Mass Gators 6U team.
There were six teams that competed in the 6U division at the June 21 tournament, including the Gators who took home a third place bronze medal, and the 7U Gators team also competed but didn’t place. Hamilton disclosed that the 7U athletes “had a very rough go at it,” going 0-4 that day with team members Dillan O’Connell connecting with Ryder Loftin for their lone touchdown pass on the day, but that they tried their best.
The two Central Mass Gators teams, which were formed in the fall last year, are in the city-based Central Mass Flag league. Age divisions in the league range from Lil Ballers, three- to five-year-olds, all the way up to high school on the 17U team.
Hamilton is assisted by Percy Eady for the 6U team and Patrick O’Connell is the head coach of the 7U team assisted by Adrian Ojeda. The 6U team consisting of five players from Fitchburg and one from Orange are the youngest team in Central Mass Flag history to become a Junior Olympics qualifier and what makes it even more amazing is that it’s the team’s first official full season of existence.
The dedicated coach said that while the 6U Gators “got off to a rough start losing a hard-fought battle” to the number four ranked team in the nation, the tournament champions 32 Sports out of Connecticut, they shut out every other team they faced in the tournament and were only scored on by 32 Sports and the Upstate Bandits from New York, who are ranked 20th nationally.
“The energy was a combination of nerves and pressure honestly,” Hamilton said when asked what it was like at the tournament. “I really wanted this for this group of kids. Nobody thought we would be here and having the tournament here in Fitchburg, right in these kids’ backyard, we weren’t leaving without a medal. These kids are the future of Fitchburg.”
He noted that every single player on the 6U team either scored or had a point after conversion that day.
“That shows the unselfishness of these kids on the field,” Hamilton proudly said.
He noted that 6U team members Chase Burdett and JuJu Eady “did the bulk of the ball carrying on the day, while Quarterback Marcellus Reed led the charge connecting with Gators leading receiver Ezel Figueroa for big plays all day for the Gators,” adding that players Asaya Corbel and Konnor Bowler “were solid for the Gators all day on both sides of the ball.”
Hamilton said he is thrilled to see where the 6U team is just two months out from tryouts, all thanks to the hard work and determination of the young players.
“It was definitely one of the highlights of my life seeing the joy and excitement on the faces of the kids and families of our Gator program,” he said. “For six families to buy in and commit to a new program is pretty special to me.”
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