Church provides alternative to other youth football leagues in the area
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE _
There are a number of youth
football organizations in Forsyth
County. But none of the organiza
tions build up the game day hype
like the Youth Character Football
League (YCFL).
The YCFL is an alternative to
other youth football leagues in
Winston-Salem that had mandat
ed weight limits for every age
group.
In other youth leagues, if a
boy did not meet the required
weight limit in a specific age
group, the child would have to
move up to the next'age group, or
try to lose weight to remain
down.
The YCFL provides a avenue
for boys ages 5-14 to play, chil
dren who were denied acceptance
into other leagues because of
their weight.
Union Baptist Church and its
pastor. Bishop Sir Walter Mack
Jr., started the Youth Character
Football League in 2009.
In years past, the league has
held an official draft day to kick
off the season. The draft was
designed to give every participant
in the league a chance to feel like
he had made it to the big leagues.
According to Mack, the draft was
Sept. 12 against the Trinity Panthers
Oct. 3 against the Southeast Guilford Falcons
Oct. 10 against the Carolina Cowboys
Oct. 24 against the Eden Prowlers.
All home games will be played at Winston-Salem Preparatory
Academy, 1215 N. Cameron Ave.
one of the signature events of the
league
This year for the first time,
more travel to play games is
involved.
Mack said the league treats all
participants as a priority and in
return they treat them as a priori
ty
A number of local high school
coaches helped out with the
league in past seasons. Last year
coaches from Mt. Tabor, North
Forsyth and East Forsyth volun
teered with the league.
This season, the YCFL will
have four home games, including
the home opener Saturday, Sept.
12, when they host the Trinity
Panthers.
Last week, the YCFL traveled
to Asheboro to take on the
Southwest Randolph Cougars.
The YCFL practice and play
its games at Winston-Salem Prep,
1215 North Cameron Avenue.
For more information on the
YCFL. visit wwwjuiionbaptistws
ncjorg.
Photo* by Craig T Greenlee
Jaelon Maxie of East Forsyth (6) heads downfield for a sizeable gain.
JV Football
from page B1
the second quarter. Mysta Goodloe connected with
Dimaggio Wilson on a 32-yard pass. Two plays later,
Goodloe fired a 22-yard touchdown pass to Rashon
Bethea with 51 seconds remaining to make it a 21-6 game
at intermission.
The Demons narrowed the deficit early in the third
quarter when Charlie Mensh hooked up with Bethea on a
50-yard scoring play. With East Forsyth up by 21-12, it
seemed that the tenor of the game had started to turn in
RJR's favor.
A costly Demons turnover, however, derailed their
comeback hopes. A low snap from center got away from
Mensh who was lined up in the shotgun. With the Eagles
defense set to recover the loose ball and possibly score
another touchdown, Mensh kicked the ball out of bounds,
which resulted in a safety.
Reynolds had a short kickoff and East Forsyth took
over on the Demon's 39-yard line. The Eagles capped
another scoring drive with Bullins' 23-yard touchdown
toss to Childs, who made a diving catch in the right corner
of the end zone for a 29-12 lead.
"I saw a lot of fight out of our guys, and they didn't
quit," said Coach Rod Dunlap of Reynolds. "There are
several areas we need to work on and clean up. If you take
away the good field position they had and our turnovers,
we're right there. As long as our players continue to buy in
to what we're doing, we'll be OK."
The Eagles defense, which had two interceptions and
three fumble recoveries, added the finishing touches when
Jomaad Cater picked up a fumble and raced 42 yards for
the game's final score.
"Our defense made mistakes, but they made some
plays too," said Horton. "They played well coming down
the stretch and gave us good field position, which gave us
a lot of chances to put points on the board. We should have
scored more, but we'll get better at that. It's a lot easier to
get better coming off a win rather than a loss."
I I
RJR's Dimaggio Wilson (3) congratulates teammate Rashon Bethea after his
50-yard touchdown reception.
Leagues
from page B1
able to score two touchdowns off
turnovers, enough to come out victorious,
13-0.
The long day continued for the Indians
when the Jr. Pee Wee division fell, 14-6.
This week, the Indians will have their
first home game of the season when they
face off against the Greensboro Ravens.
The Indians and Broncos are members
of the Piedmont Youth Football & Cheer
League, which is part of the American
Youth Football League. There are a num
ber of other AYFL organizations in Forsyth
County. For a list of those teams, visit
www.pyfcl.com.
Tiny Vikings
(Pop Warner)
To prepare for the upcoming season,
the Winston-Salem Tiny Vikings held a
scrimmage jamboree on Saturday, Aug. 22.
Pop Warner teams from all over the
state attended the tournament, held at
Mineral Springs Middle School. During
the tournament, each team was allowed to
be on offense for 15 minutes before giving
the ball to the other team.
The format used during the tournament
is very similar to the format used during
scrimmages at the high school and college
levels. The jamboree was designed not
only to prepare players for the season but
for the next level as well.
For years, the Tiny Viking organization
has helped student-athletes transition into
the next level. The Vikings are the longest
running Pop Warner organization in the
county.
During
the jam
boree, the
Viking Sr.
Midgets took
on a tough
competitor
from
Greensboro.
Last sea
son, the
Vikings held
the title for
the
Northwest
Midget Pop
Warner
Football
League.
Head coach Chris Key told his players
that other teams are going to be ready to
play them because they are the champions.
"1 told my players that they have to
come into every game ready; nothing is
going to be handed to us." Key said.
Last season, the Vikings competed for
the Pop Warner National title in Orlando,
Florida, before falling short of their goals
of a national title.
Last Saturday, the Vikings traveled to
Raleigh for the first official game of the
season.
The Tiny Vikings is one of only two
members of the Pop Warner organization
in the area. The Winston-Salem Tar Heels
are in their first season as members of the
organization.
"I told my
players that
they have to
come into
every game
ready; nothing
is going to be
handed to us."
-Chris Key, Head coach
A member of the Forsyth County Broncos Jr. Pee Wee division tries to break
free from a defender on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Clemmons Elementary School.
A member of the Winston-Salem Tiny Indians Jr. Pee Wee division finds some
running room in the first half of Saturdays match-up against the Forsyth
County Broncos. The Broncos won the game 14-6.
Honored ___
from page II
National Coach of the Year Award.
As a youngster, Hughes played Pop
Warner football with the Tiny Vikings and
his father was the head coach. The
younger Hughes remembers all the chat
sessions with father/coach where the
son/player learned how to improve his
skills and gain a better understanding of
game strategy.
"My dad was the one who steered me
into coaching," said Hughes. "We used to
break down film and go over plays. We'd
analyze what went right, what went wrong
and what needed to be done to correct mis
takes.
"Now, I'm finding myself doing the
same things he did. From this
point on, anything else that I
might accomplish in coach
ing will be done in recogni
tion and in honor of my
father's memory."
Hughes, who became the
Mustangs track coach in
2004, has built a nationally
recognized program. Last
year. Parkland doubled as the
Class 4-A state team champi
ons in indoor and outdoor
track. Additionally, the Mustangs won the
4x200 relay at the New Balance Indoor
Nationals.
The year before, Parkland won state
team championships indoors and outdoors
and claimed the national title in the 4x200
relay at the New Balance Outdoor
Nationals.
"Our program has come a long way
and we've accomplished at lot," said
Hughes. "But there's no way that any of
this would have happened without the help
I've gotten from some excellent assistant
coaches. I give them a ton of credit
because I couldn't done this by myself."
The Mustangs coaching staff includes:
Jarrell Elliott (works with quarter-milers
and half-milers), Chris Stewart
(hurdles/long jump/triple jump), Qmar
Cladd (assists Hughes with the short
sprints), Maurice Morrison (long
jump/quarter-milers) and Tyrone Holman
(hurdles/long jump/triple jump).
r. t>.
Holman had been at Parkland up until
2014 and now he's assisting with Winston
Salem Prep's girls, who won the team title
at the Class 1-A state outdoor champi
onships last spring.
Given Hughes' level of success, he's
been asked on several occasions about
making the move to the college ranks.
Hughes makes it clear that he's not inter
ested.
It's his intention to coach at the high
school for at least another eight or nine
years. That's because he wants to be avail
able to coach his sons (9-year old Antwan
Jr. and 7-year old Caleb) when they get to
high school. Both run during the summer
months with the Lights Out Track Club,
which is owned by Hughes.
"I'm in this for the long run," said
Hughes. "I've worked with so many other
people's youngsters who have gone to col
lege on track scholarships. So, it's only
right that I do the same for my own kids.
Have a Story Idea?
Let us Know
news@wschronicle?om