Lookout Mountain Recreation Department

Lookout Mountain Recreation Department

News Detail

17

Dec, 2016

Packers Flag Football Champs!

The grey, cold morning of Saturday, December 3, 2016 did not dissuade a robust crowd from attending the Inaugural Lookout Mountain Flag Football Championship Game on Raymond L. Stamps Field at Lookout Mountain School. The game pitted the Number-One Seed Titans, helmed by Coach Nelson Williams, against the Number-Three Seed Packers. The Packers took the gridiron without their field general, Coach Griffin Lifsey, who was unable to attend the game, which had been rescheduled due to local wildfires in November. Additionally, talented players Whit Lifsey and Lucas Presley, both having contributed to a semi-final victory in overtime four days earlier, had to miss the rescheduled game due to previous commitments. Coaches Philip Byrum and Rob Bade took the reins from Coach Lifsey to face their formidable foe.
The game started quickly with big offensive plays. Sig Brown, Will Oliver, and John Early Crichton sparked two Titans touchdown drives in the first quarter, and their club managed to take the early lead. The Packers answered with a 1-2 punch of brothers Kell and Graham Clark, at Running Back/Wide Receiver and Quarterback, respectively. The Clark twins operated almost exclusively on the ground, slicing and dicing their ways North, South, East, and West - whatever it took - to two first-half scores, bringing their team to within one point of the Titans at the half.
The second half saw the Packers' defense bow its back, with speed merchant Logan Mitchell patrolling the back end at Safety and the Brothers Clark controlling the corners. Younger brother, Quinn Clark, dug in at Middle Linebacker and made a number of impressive tackles, including an open field flag-grab to stop the Titans on fourth down. The Packers' third-grade contingent - Presley Bade, Connor Balthrop, Charlie Byrum, and Max Stiles - combined to create an intimidating presence upfront, making any plays up the middle difficult to execute and putting pressure on the Titans' Quarterback. With this team effort, the Packers held the Titans to just one second half score.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Clark's continued their dominance, with each of the three brothers scoring a touchdown in the second half. The third-graders showed considerable resolve in the trenches, blocking usually bigger opponents on every play to give their teammates room to carry the ball. That said, the youngsters also contributed by toting the rock, with Charlie Byrum converting a critical late-game first down on a 10-yard run and Presley Bade coming mere inches away from her second score of the season.
The final tally was 39-26 in favor of the Packers. While they were understandably disappointed in the result, the Titans had no cause to be disappointed in themselves or their play. Having given their all and after leaving everything on the field, the Titans were gracious in defeat, and the teams shook hands at midfield after the game. As the Packers gathered in the south end zone, they Face Timed Coach Lifsey to deliver the great news. The Packers celebrated on the field with their family and friends, and, a week later in a ceremony held at Mr. T's Pizza, each player received his or her championship trophy.
Most certainly, the first season of flag football on the Mountain was a success, with all of the players having fun and playing hard. The 2017 season cannot come fast enough!!!