The 9- and 10-year-old Waverly Hall Yellow Jackets stung the Fort Benning Patriots 14-6 Saturday in youth indoor football at the Columbus Civic Center.
Elliott Manuel scored on the Patriots' second possession with a 5-yard touchdown run to lead 6-0 at the half.
With 16 minutes remaining in the game, Waverly Hall's Reed Mallard scored from 2 yards out to tie the score at 6. Mallard threw a touchdown pass to Sebastian Russell with less than seven minutes remaining in the game to take a 12-6 lead. T.J. Pass tacked on a 2-point conversion to seal a 14-6 win for the Yellow Jackets.
"The team played hard," said
Patriots coach Derrick Byrd. "They are showing a lot of improvement. It's night and day from our first game."
This is the first time Fort Benning has had a team in the league, which includes teams from Columbus, Phenix City and Waverly Hall.
Byrd said nine of 13 of the team's players are new to football, so he is teaching them the basics.
"I always emphasize to the team everything doesn't always go their way, so they have to fight through adversity," he said.
Fort Benning's Bruce Wood said the team tried their best, in defeat.
"The first half was easier, and the second half was tough, but we all worked together as a team," he said.
"That's what is most important in football - teamwork and having fun."
Up next for the Yellow Jackets are the Longhorns at 11 a.m. April 17, while the Patriots take on the Colts at 1 p.m.
Both games are at the Columbus Civic Center. Spectators are welcome.
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Photos by Rachel Jackson
Patriots: Fort Benning's Elliott Manuel runs the ball in a game against the Yellow Jackets Saturday at the Columbus Civic Center. Manuel scored Fort Benning's lone touchdown.
Patriots2: Fort Benning quarterback Nathan Boyd carries the ball Saturday at the Columbus Civic Center. Up next for the Patriots are the Colts at 1 p.m. April 17 at the Civic Center.
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