Carrboro Falcons in the News

From Chapel Hill News:

Scoreboards at most football games show the home team’s score and the visitor’s tally as well. Bright lights spell out the quarter, the time remaining, the down and distance.

What hasn’t shown up on the end zone marquees, however, has been how the sport of football scores with more and more young athletes.

Though Carrboro Recreation and Parks has offered youth football for years, the addition of a local Pop Warner association and two teams through Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation has added seven more options for young pigskin fans.

Playing in the Central Piedmont Youth Football League, Carrboro’s youth football teams face off each week against such daunting eastern division competition as Chapel Hill, Orange County, East and West Chatham, Bethesda, Siler City and Downtown Durham Athletic Association (DDAA) teams.

After winning the eastern division title in the CPYFL in both 2004 and 2005, this year’s Carrboro Falcon (7-8-year-old) squad is holding a “talon” show of its own.

“We’ve had some players move up and on,” Falcon head coach Grant DeBerry said, “and we wish them success with everything they’re doing. But this year’s players have come together to work as a team. They’re good kids, they’re listening, and they’re working hard.”

Under DeBerry, the 3-3 Falcons are looking to claim a road victory this weekend versus the DDAA Titans using the same philosophy that has been successful in the past.

“We keep our style simple. It’s just smash-mouth football, with nothing too complicated,” DeBerry said. “We’re just trying to give everyone some experience of what football is like and what being part of a team is like.”

DeBerry had high praise for the talent that stepped in after the departure of many who led the Falcons to success in the past two campaigns.

“Harrison Young is doing a wonderful job at quarterback,” DeBerry said. “He listens, and whatever we ask, he does.

“The same goes for our fullback Deshawn Dixon. Deshawn was with us last year, and he’s always listened well. We also have some up-and-comers who really like to get out and play.”

He cited Jackson Peete, Brandon Wendel, Chase Bolsky and Nick Mitchell for enthusiasm that added depth to the talent pool. DeBerry said fans shouldn’t judge his players by their size.

“Sometimes you look at guys like our (Benjamin and Wesley) Kelley twins,” he said. “You look at their size and think (they’re too small), but they have a lot of heart, and they love to hit. They might be under 50 pounds, but they love to hit.”

While Andrew Cuffe and Michael Marcin rounded out the offensive backfield, DeBerry also noted the standout defensive play by Lonnie Baldwin and Gianni Hooker.

“With their speed on defense, they’re really able to attack the ball,” he said.

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Jeffrey L Cohen

Jeffrey L Cohen