Peewee Winners

To all those who say that the Lake Placid Green Dragons cannot manage a winning football season, I would say that they have been watching the wrong games. I have had the privilege over the past eight weeks of watching the Dragon Jr. Peewee team win every single one of their games, without allowing a score until this past Saturday. With little fanfare, and no press coverage, the Jr. Peewee Dragons became the district champions for the second year in a row. Two undefeated seasons.

Saturday's game was a magical mystery tour of unprecedented proportions. After managing to score the only points against the Dragons all season in the first part of the first quarter, Sebring played a typical game, complete with unexplained fouls and a Rip Van Winkle moment at the end of the first quarter.

Apparently, everyone in the stadium was unconscious for two entire plays, going from a first down to a fourth down instantaneously.

Even though it was apparent the gentleman manning the down marker had flipped the marker too far, neither the referees nor the Sebring coaches were capable of determining that it was, in fact, the second down, and not the fourth. After a spirited discussion with the referees by the Dragon coaching staff, the play remained as called. The Dragons, however, displayed remarkable sportsmanship and proceeded to outmaneuver and outplay their rivals. The score went from 0 - 6 in favor of Sebring to 6-6, 13-6, 19 - 6. Then, Lake Placid apparently gave Sebring a discount, scoring a 5-point touchdown to bring the score to 24-6. The invisible point remained unseen when the Dragons scored again, marking the final score of 30-6. Even though the final score was actually 31-6, I am sure that it will be recorded as 30-6.

The evening ended with a joyful celebration by the Dragons receiving their championship trophies. I cannot express my pride and joy at seeing our boys display such remarkable talent, skill, honor and sportsmanship. I can only hope that this team stays together, improving their skills, for the next five years. Then we may see a winning season or two at the high school level, whose players could have benefited tremendously by watching the youngsters show what it means to really want to win.

The Jr. Peewee Dragons will play their first round of the state playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 3 at Firemen's Field in Sebring. I ask the public to come support our boys. You won't regret it.

Mariposa Rinald
Lake Placid