Youth football teams from both Pace and Milton took home championships last week. While the Pace Mighty Mites defeated North East Pensacola 12-0, four youth football teams from the City of Milton also took home championship trophies which could possibly be a first for the youth sports clubs in the north end of Santa RosaCounty.
“I have been here since 1998 and we have had only one team win a championship (in 2011),” said John Norton, Milton’s Director of Parks and Recreation. “We have had several teams which have been a runner up in years past.”
Norton could not say for sure if this was the first time four youth football teams from the city have won a championship in the same year. However, this is the first time while competing in the North West Florida Youth Sports Alliance.
In addition to the years of coaching experience, Norton also credited the change of leagues towards the success of the championships. Previously, Milton’s youth football teams were in the Gulf Coast Youth Sports Alliance. This year the teams transitioned to the new league. Norton said the new organization not only focuses on safety in learning new techniques, it also allows players to play within their age group.
“We previously would have seven and eight year olds play together on the same team. Now we split that up to where seven year olds can play together,” Norton said.
David McCauley, head coach of the 7U division agreed, adding the change “balanced things out.”
“Now they can play with the same team they played with last year,” McCauley said.
McCauley, who coached his group of 26 players, said another advantage is competing against additional teams.
“There is a lot more opportunities to learn,” McCauley said.
The Pace Mini Mites, a 6U team, of the Pace Athletic and Recreation Association have been part of the North West Florida Youth Sports Alliance for two years. Head Coach Seth Cumbie, who currently as the President of the PARA, believes this might be the first time a PARA football team has won a championship. Although he could not verify for sure, Cumbie said he is unaware of any past championship victories from PARA youth football clubs.
“This is something we have been building upon since we won the tee ball championship (earlier this year),” Cumbie said.
Cumbie plans to celebrate with the team next month while getting championship rings for his players.
While the new league and coaching experience may have helped, Norton said the key factor to the championship victories come from the players themselves.
“There is a lot of athletic talent out there and that always helps,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton, Pace youth state champs