Maricopa sweeps youth football championships

Maricopa’s Mighty Mite Division Mustangs (ages 7-8), Junior Pee Wee Division Cougars (ages 9-10), Pee Wee Division Vipers (ages 11-12) and Junior Division Vipers (ages 13-14) all won PCYFF title games Saturday at Apache Junction High School.

“It is definitely impressive,” said Joel Griffin, president of the Maricopa Youth Football League. “This is the first time we have swept all of the divisions.”

The MM Mustangs, coached by Dino Clark, completed an undefeated season by beating the Chandler MM Diablos 21-0 in the Mighty Mite Division championship game.

The JPW Cougars, coached by Larry Davis, also finished undefeated. They capped their second consecutive championship season with a 28-6 victory over the Apache Junction Predators in the Junior Pee Wee Division.

The PW Vipers, coached by Griffin, won all of their games in earning their second straight Pee Wee Division championship. The PW Vipers defeated the Chandler PW Diablos 47-19 in the title game.

The Junior Vipers, coached by Dan Leonard and Griffin, beat the Casa Grande Cyclones 48-28 to win the Junior Division championship.

“Apache Junction did a great job of hosting the games,” Griffin said. “We had a lot of support from Maricopa fans. Our Maricopa cheer squads were there and performed at the games.”

Griffin said that more than 250 players and 50 cheerleaders participated in the Maricopa Youth Football League this fall season. The 12 teams in the Maricopa league compete in the Pinal County Youth Football Federation with teams from Casa Grande, Eloy, Apache Junction, Tempe, Chandler and Queen Creek.

The MYFL’s fall season ran from Aug. 21 until Saturday. The league also plays a spring season, which begins in late February.

Registration for the spring season is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 8, Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 at Pacana Park. The cost for the spring season is $125 per participant.

More information on the Maricopa Youth Football League is available at www.copayouthfootball.com.

“The league gives these kids an avenue to do something different,” Griffin said. “If we are giving them something to do that they love and enjoy, it makes me happy. I am at the field every weekend from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., making sure these kids enjoy playing football. I want to give back to the community and the kids.”