Flag football champions named in Superbowl

The Albany Flag Football season concluded Monday evening, Nov. 19, when the playoffs for both the youngest and the oldest groups took place at Robert Nail Stadium.

“Semifinal games went on at both ends of the field,” said league organizer Anthony Ceder. “The winners from each of those games then took on each other to determine the champion in that age division. Both of Monday’s finals took place at the same time, on opposite ends of the field.”

The second and third grade division title was determined on Friday, Nov. 16.

The second and third grade semifinals took place at 5:00 p.m. last Friday, and pitted the Browns against the Patriots and the Raiders against the Seahawks. The winners took on each other in the finals at 6:00 p.m. that same evening. 

The Browns came out on top, 36-34, to win their division.

Coaches were Sedrick Roberson (Seahawks), Shawn Sutton (Patriots), Tony Wheeler and Johnny Dockins (Raiders), and Anthony Ceder and Gary Vickers (Browns).

Kindergarten and first graders played their semi-finals at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 19, with the Rams and the 49ers moving on to the 8:00 p.m. finals.

The Rams, coached by Dan Key and Jacey Shack, won the Superbowl 38-29 over Lacey Anderson and Spencer Balliew’s Rams.

Also coaching the youngest teams were Morgan Smith and Lee Burton (Redskins) and Francisco Salazar and Holland Smith (Bills).

The fourth and fifth grade teams began their semifinals at 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 19.

The Cardinals, coached by Kevin Billington, made it to the finals and beat Chris Edgar’s Saints 40-26 in the Superbowl.

Also coaching the oldest teams were Clayton Oliver (Cowboys) and Spencer Newsom (Chiefs).

“I am really proud of how all the kids, from kindergarten on up, competed,” said Ceder. “It is exciting seeing how much talent we have in Albany. The kids also showed good sportsmanship.”

Ceder also commended the coaches.

“Every coach did a great job loving kids, which is what is most important,” Ceder said.