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The Columbus Youth Sports Cardinals football team has captured its first championship in the post-merger era.
They defeated the Rice Youth Sports Raiders by a score of 30-26 in a very exciting Superbowl game.
“It was a championship game that was played like a championship game should be played,” CYS Cardinals Head Coach Royce Caldwell said.
The game went back and forth with each team finding the endzone early and often. Caldwell said his defense was finally able to make a couple of stops to help them extend their lead.
Caldwell continued to say that Rice was a familiar foe but they were hands down their toughest games this year.
“We played them once already this year and beat them 44-20 and we knew they were going to come back to the Superbowl ready to play, and they gave us a really good game,” CYS Cardinals Head Coach Royce Caldwell said. “Hats off to them too because they had about 16 players and they gave us our toughest games all season and that shows how dedicated their kids and coaches are.”
In addition to winning the Superbowl, the CYS Cardinals also posted a perfect 13-0 record on their way to the championship. They were able to win so many games because their offense was unstoppable as they outscored opponents this season by a combined score of 524-146 across 13 games.
That is also a testament to their defense as they continued to suffocate teams even though they had a large lead. Caldwell said despite their strong defense and offense the only time they trailed this season was against Rice.
Caldwell said that this friendly but competitive rivalry between Rice and Columbus is the same at the youth level. With bragging rights on the line, everyone brings their best game.
With the Superbowl Championship in their hands after the game, Caldwell made sure his team stayed focused because their football journey was just beginning.
“I told my 6th graders that things only get harder from here and they got a taste of learning football now they have to go and apply in a more structured system,” Caldwell said. “My 5th graders already stepped up and played key roles for us this season, so I told them that I expect them to step up again next season and lead this team because I know they can.”
The CYS Cardinals won the Superbowl, but this was a major win for every child, coach and parent involved this season, and everyone turned in amazing reviews about the first season in the post-merger era.
