By Kyle LoJacono
The Land O’ Lakes Gators were well represented in this year’s Pasco Police Athletic League (PPAL) super bowl, sending four of their five teams to the event and claiming two championships.
The Gators mighty mites and junior varsity teams reached the title games, while the flyweight and varsity squads took home PPAL crowns.
For the flyweights (13-0), it was the second straight championship.
“Last year I was really excited because I didn’t think we’d win,” said tight end and corner back Grant Henderson, a co-captain. “This year I knew we’d be great because of all the good players we have.”
Both flyweight titles came with Ed Campbell as the coach.
“At the start of the season I never thought we’d go through undefeated,” Ed said. “Quickly I saw the boys had something special, but not just because of their play and ability to listen to the coaches. Football is like a brotherhood and that’s what they became. They stuck together and wouldn’t let one kid get picked on in a game. They truly came together.
“Football is different from every other sport in that way,” Ed continued. “After going through all the heat and pain in practice and games, you have to come together as one.”
Ed’s son Hunter is a guard, fullback, defensive end and special teams player for the Gators. While he enjoys playing all the different positions, what he really loves about playing with the team is spending time with his family and friends.
“I get to be with all my team each week and have fun,” said Hunter, a co-captain. “My dad can be tough as a coach, but he does it to make you a better player.”
The offensive MVP for the flyweights, which is for players 7-8 years old, was running back Keith Walker. The co-captain scored 22 total touchdowns in the 13 games, including 19 rushing, two interception returns and a kick return for a score. He gained 935 yards rushing as well.
“We have a lot of guys who couldn’t be stopped in games,” Walker said. “We have players who can do special things at any time.”
Walker was also the offensive MVP of the Gators 37-7 super bowl win against West Hernando. Taking home the
defensive MVP honor in the title game was linebacker Mason Matzke, who had an interception in the final contest.
“It was a hard game,” Matzke said of the super bowl. “It wasn’t that close, but it was a hard game to win. Our coach really helped us all year and did a great job in the super bowl.”
Joining Matzke in the linebacking core was co-captain Jimmy Sandifer, who is also a center. Playing two of the roughest positions on the field does not faze him.
“I like the hitting,” Sandifer said. “I get to do it every play.”
The last of the co-captains is fullback Dawson Place.
“It’s been a lot of fun being a captain,” Place said. “You have more to do. … The season has been even better than last year because we never lost.”
All players received trophies and other gifts at the end of the year event at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, but one player was given a special award. Last year, Jalen Williams was right at the 100-pound weight limit for the flyweight division. Ed said he expected him to be more than the limit at this year’s weigh in, but Williams put himself on a diet and running program and made the squad.
“We gave him the Warrior Award for doing that,” Ed said. “That takes dedication for a young kid to go on a diet and work hard to make weight like he did.”
Ed thanked the flyweight cheerleaders for always easing his tension during games with their routines. He also thanked the parents of the players for allowing him to coach the boys and his wife Lisa, who he said is the, “glue of the team that made everything happen.”
Players on the Gators come mainly from Land O’ Lakes and Lutz. For more information on PPAL, visit www.pascopal.org.
