By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Sweeting

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE 2023 Bahamas Youth Flag Football League (BYFFL) season is now in the books after three champions were crowned over the weekend on the playing fields opposite the original Thomas A Robinson stadium.

Team Dawkins reeled in a win in the 10-13 age group when they downed Team Kevin. Team Munroe collectively hoisted the championship trophies after defeating Team Allen in the 14-17 division.

Additionally, Team Inne handled business against Team Dawkins in the featured game of the day in the 6-9 age group.

Inne Marshall, head coach of Team Inne, was overjoyed to see the regular season success of the team translate to a championship victory. “We finished off the season in first place so I went into the championship game very optimistic about the win. I did not foresee a 35-13 victory. I thought it was going to be a lot tougher but we came out and pulled it out in the clutch. I am very proud of my kids. They did an excellent job this season,” Marshall said.

Team Inne led their opponents 23-13 which blossomed into a 35-13 victory. Cha’Naldo King, who earned the league’s MVP honours in the 6-9 age group, was a dominant performer for Team Inne.

In the game, he scored four touchdowns and evaded defenders at every opportunity he got to help his team coast to the championship win.

Coach Marshall talked about the top performance turned in by King.

“Cha’Naldo is very special. This is his second season working with me and he had an amazing season and has been partnered with an excellent quarterback in Shaquille Thurston who was actually a rookie. They make an amazing team,” she said.

Next season the head coach is looking forward to being unstoppable once again but for now her sights are set on the USA Flag Youth Championships which most of her team members will play in.

It was a low scoring affair in the Team Allen vs Munroe matchup with the latter finishing the game ahead by two points (8-6) in the 14-17 age division.

Amari Hutchinson was named the league’s MVP in this respective division on Saturday.

Reginald Cartwright, of Team Munroe, said the team’s perseverance helped them to emerge as BYFFL champions in the 14-17 category.

“The win was mostly about perseverance. I think we had started the game off hot and made a few mistakes but we decided to pull together and we got it done.

“It is an overwhelming feeling but it is all about the kids. It is good to see them take on the sport, enjoy it and actually learn and grow from year to year,” he said.

In Saturday’s first game of the BYFFL championships, Team Dawkins handed a 23-14 loss to Team Kevin to earn the bragging rights.

Wyatt Cartwright was awarded the MVP honours in the 10-13 age division.

Ulan Dawkins, head coach of Team Dawkins, was grateful not only for the championship but to see the development of the youth in flag football.

“If I talk about the game I would be doing the season injustice.

“The season itself was definitely one of those seasons where I saw we had incremental growth and at the tail end we saw exponential growth.

“It was a tight and emotional game. We played a great team but our team was able to rally, get through that emotional wall and get the win.

“I am proud of them for that. It is a humbling experience but one of the biggest wins that we had was seeing the team develop chemistry throughout the season so the championship was just kind of the cherry on top of the development,” Dawkins said.

With the 2023 BYFFL season now in the rearview, the focus will shift to the USA Flag Youth World Championships scheduled for December 29-30 in San Antonio, Texas.