This past Saturday, Wythe County’s Department of Parks & Recreation completed the 2014 youth football season for its varsity and junior varsity leagues.

In total, sixteen teams from Wythe and Bland counties competed in the ten week season, which culminated in Saturday’s Super Bowl XIX games.

Held at the Rural Retreat High School, Super Bowl XIX’s junior varsity championship game pitted the Rural Retreat Indians (WHITE) against the Wytheville Maroons (SILVER).  The Indians (WHITE) won that game by a score of 7-0, thanks to a 52 yard touchdown run by Brock Smelser.  Elijah Blevins earned the PAT on a 2 yard run into the end zone.

Later that afternoon, the Wytheville Maroons competed against the Max Meadows Pioneers in the 32-minute varsity game.  The Maroons won the varsity championship game by a score of 12-0, posting a pair of red zone touchdowns by Nick Martin and Malik Taylor.  Both PATs failed, thanks to the efforts of the Pioneers’ defensive line.

The championship teams — from both divisions — will have their names added to the matching set of Kirk D. Heldreth Memorial Trophies and enjoy the honor of displaying the trophy in their school over the next year.

“We’ve had a great season and we certainly have a lot of people to thank.  It takes an entire army of people working together in order to have a successful youth football and youth cheerleading season,” said Kevin Williams, director of Wythe County’s Parks & Recreation Department.  Williams added, “The booster clubs, volunteers, officials, parents, staff and so many others have dedicated countless hours to make this season happen.  Their work is greatly appreciated.”   In addition to Saturday’s championship games, the annual multicounty event provided local youth cheerleaders with an opportunity to showcase their talents.

Performing inside the Rural Retreat High School gymnasium, each cheerleading squad displayed routines including a chant, cheer and dance, in the yearly cheerleading presentation dubbed “Cheermania.”

Echoing Williams’ sentiments, Scotty Vaught, Wythe County’s youth sports coordinator said many of the lessons picked up over the past ten weeks will accompany the young athletes for life.  “They all – cheerleaders and football players – were able to learn the value of hard work and commitment; skills needed in the real world,” Vaught went on to state, “It’s great watching the players and teams mature over the course of just a few months.”

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