Hawks run down Pop Warner crown

From Hyattsville to Orlando, a history-making performance for pee wees

Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005

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by Terron Hampton

Staff Writer

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Photos by Barbara L. Salisbury⁄The Gazette

Ronald Darby runs downfield for a 93-yard touchdown in the 2005 Pop Warner Super Bowl pee wee championship game, which was held Saturday at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. The Hyattsville Hawks’ 32-10 victory made them the first-ever single pee wee champions.

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Hyattsville Hawks coach Nick Miller and assistant coach Terrance Helm have a celebratory hug after the Hawks’ victory.

ORLANDO, Fla. — On a picturesque day at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex, a group of fans gathered in front of the stands at the football stadium shouting, ‘‘Whose House? Hawks House!” and ‘‘Go hard or go home!”

Less than a minute prior to the rally in the stands, the Hyattsville Hawks Pee Wee team locked up a chance to make history in the 2005 Pop Warner Super Bowl.

On a first-down play in the fourth quarter, Hawks halfback Ronald Darby took a handoff from quarterback Carl Smith, made two quick cutbacks and took the ball 93 yards for a touchdown that allowed Hyattsville to take a commanding 26-10 lead against Oak Grove (Calif.).

The Hawks would score another touchdown to secure a 32-10 victory to complete a 14-0-1 season and become the first-ever individual champion in the 9-to-11-year-old Pee Wee Division I of the Pop Warner Super Bowl.

In previous years, the Pop Warner Super Bowl had two different divisions and the winners of those brackets would share the championship.

Immediately after the final tick on the clock, several Hawks’ players doused coach Nick Miller with water bottles instead of the traditional Gatorade container.

After the game, Miller spoke about his team’s triumph.

‘‘Man, I’m at a loss for words now,” Miller said. ‘‘Nobody thought we would be here. They were ready for this game. They just came out and pounded the other team. We throw, we run and we do a little bit of everything.”

During the post-game ceremony, Pop Warner Eastern Region Director Dave Marshall presented the Hawks with the championship trophy and gave each individual a medal. Marshall also presented the team with courtesy coupons for lunch.

Once the team left the field, the celebration had to wait.

‘‘How y’all feel,” Miller asked his team, which he commanded to line up along the sideline in a single-file line.

‘‘Tight!” the team answered in unison.

Miller began the ‘‘breakdown” rally cry and the players and coaching staff ended the rally with a little shimmy of their rear ends.

Oak Grove coach Mike Cummings credited the Hawks’ effort.

‘‘We ran into a great football team,” Cummings said. ‘‘They were just better than us. The have a great team, great coach and a great program.”

The Hawks had their way on offense and defense. Offensively, the Hawks were led by Darby, who collected 145 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries. Smith kept the Oak Grove defense honest with his perfect effort through the air as he went 4 for 4 for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Smith also added a rushing touchdown and two extra-point conversions.

Hawks receiver Thaddeus Brewer had two receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown and teammate Paul Smith had a 52-yard touchdown reception.

The Hawks’ defense was just as effective and opportunistic. After allowing Oak Grove to take the opening drive 48 yards for a touchdown, the Hawks did not allow the Eagles’ offensive unit to score again. Oak Grove had several chances to score after the opening drive but could not convert. With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Oak Grove attempted a pass from the Hawks’15 yard-line that was dropped in the end zone.

On Oak Grove’s first drive of the third quarter, the Hawks’ defense allowed the Eagles to run 10 plays and get to their 2-yard line. On the 11th play of the drive, the Hawks forced a fumble and took possession at their 1-yard line. Hyattsville would eventually take an intentional safety to make more room for a kick.

The Hawks’ defensive production was a team effort and the unit was led by Andrew Peoples, Ricardo Smith, Shaquille Brown, Martiez Bryant, Jerrell Porter, Markeith Dews, Daeronta Jackson and Malik Thomas.

Also contributing on offense was halfback Albert Reid and Michael Wade.

Filling out the remainder of the Hawks’ roster was Sayvon Stubbs, Cerron Hawkins, Diray Nicholson, Kiivone Howard, Markcus Lulendo, Brandon Rivers, Devonte Colman, Kamal Wade, Terrence Johnson, David Turner and Daniel Adkisson.

In all three games the Hawks played at the Wide World of Sports Complex, the Hawks trailed. Hyattsville’s coaching staff said the team usually starts fast.

Darby said allowing Oak Grove to score set off a spark in the team’s psyche.

‘‘We were real upset after that,” Darby said. ‘‘It happens a lot of the time that we might fall behind but we step up our level of play when we need to.”

Said Smith: ‘‘This week, we tried to stay focused on all of the games we had to play. All this week, we played hard and came out and did what we were supposed to do. When I get home and go to school, the first thing I’m going to tell everybody is that we won and I’m going to show them my medal.”

E-mail Terron Hampton at thampton@gazette.net.