The Vero Beach Foundation’s 8U football team made a memorable run all the way to the AAU Football national championship game on Sunday before finishing as national runner-up.
Vero Beach battled the Cordelle Cobras out of Georgia and in a defensive battle, the Cobras scored in the final minute to win 7-0 in Lakeland.
The team played a total of 23 games from August into December and went 21-2 overall for the season and outscored its opponents 456-46.
At the start of their season, Vero Beach rolled through its local competition from Orlando to Cocoa and down to Sebastian winning all 10 of its games against ACYAA foes.
In the postseason, Vero Beach defeated Merritt Island and Palm Bay before defeating Cocoa 24-0 in the Super Bowl to earn a spot in the state championship game.
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In another low-scoring game, Vero Beach defeated the East Orlando Predators 7-0 to advance to the national tournament.
Rebounding after an opening game 7-6 defeat to Middle Georgia Power, Vero Beach shut out their next three opponents and defeated the Georgia Grizzlies 27-6 in the national semifinals on Saturday to advance to the national championship.
For the season, Vero Beach relied often on these standout players: quarterback/linebacker Cordell Baker, who scored a total of 33 touchdowns on offense and averaged 10 tackles a game on defense; on defense Justin Walker, Johntavius Gaines, Joshua Phillips and James Willis and on offense and running backs Kaleb Walker and Michael Kimbrough.
Roster
Head Coach: James Willis; Assistant Coaches: Kenny Holmes, Corey Baker, Christopher Barbato, Victor Pierce, Antwan Rivers, Mike White; Team Moms: Abigail Bass and Holly Wood
Players: Cordell Baker, Freddrick Bass Jr., Briggs Buettell, Carter Blue, Jonathan Collins Jr., Johnatvius Gaines Jr., Montell Godwin Jr., Michael Hannigan III, Zackery Harrell, Kaiden Harris, Aayden Holmes, Daylen Jackson, Tylon Johnson, Michael Kimbrough Jr., Abraham Mcfarling, Ezekiel Moore, Travis Ogden, Joshua Phillips, Kaiden Pound, Austyn Rivers, Jeremiah Sears, Kordell Taylor, Trenton Tomlin, Justin Walker, Kaleb Walker, Donnarious Wesley, Sherrod Williams, James Willis, Avery Wood