FAIRVIEW – The Cullman Cyclones Pee Wee team finished off a decade of dominance Saturday morning, beating the Cullman Bearcats 22-0 to win the Cullman County Youth Football Association championship.

The win made it nine titles in the past 10 years for the Cyclones, which finished the season 9-0.

The Cyclones rode a stingy defensive effort in cold, wet conditions at Dafford Smith Stadium, outgaining the Bearcats 195-56. 

“Defense has been the staple of our football team,” said coach Trevor Clemmons, whose squad allowed only 22 points all season. “Our defense is just so fast and athletic and coachable. (The Bearcats) had the spread offense going today, and I think the rain and wet weather kind of hurt that a little bit.”

On offense, every yard for the Cyclones came by way of the run. That also led to a big disparity in time of possession with the Cyclones holding the ball for 22:53 to the Bearcats’ 9:07.

The Cyclones’ first touchdown drive covered 44 yards in 6:03. Isaac Jones finished it off on fourth down from the 3-yard line by rumbling up the middle into the end zone for a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Cyclones converted three fourth downs on the possession.

Two drives later, speedy LJ Turner reached the end zone on a 47-yard run. Turner finished the game with 63 yards on six carries.

A fumble recovery set up the Cyclones’ final touchdown, as Jackson Sessions capped an 11-play, 41-yard drive with a 5-yard run to paydirt.

The Bearcats’ offense did find a bit of a rhythm on its final possession, picking up its first first down of the contest on a 9-yard pass from Landon Blackwood to Tanner Gaines. Blackwood also connected with Tiger Flannigan for six and 12 yards, Wyatt Buchanan for 11 and Levi Wynn for a short loss.

Gaines, Blackwood, Flannigan, Elijah Dues, Scott Cohen, Jackson Earnest and Carson Jones all got carries throughout the game.

Zayden Calvert led all rushers with 73 yards on 15 carries for the Cyclones. Jones ended the day with 25 yards rushing and Sessions had 20 yards. Jayce Johnston, Tyler Rowan, Eddie Caligaris and Carson Sanders also picked up rushing yards, but it was Calvert that did the lion’s share of the work.

“Zayden Calvert has been a small, scrappy little feller … just a pack of dynamite,” Clemmons said. “He plays fullback, and two years ago (the Bearcats) keyed on everybody but that position. We knew going in if they did the same thing they did the last time they wouldn’t key on him. So Zayden was able to do what he was supposed to do.”

Trenton Clemmons ran both successful 2-point conversions in for the Cyclones. Originally the starting quarterback and the coach’s son, Trenton Clemmons was injured at the start of the season and only came back for one play in last week’s semifinals.

“It was a nice way to come full-circle,” coach Clemmons said. “He started the year and finished the year.”

This game also marked the end of Clemmons’ football coaching career. He has been either an assistant or head coach for the last six seasons.

“I’ll miss some of it,” he said. “The preparation this week against the Bearcats, being our arch-rival, I’m going to be honest – I’m glad it’s over.

“I know it’s just sixth-grade football, but you want these kids to win and you want this kids to smile and want these kids to get the trophy, the pictures and T-shirts. It’s all for the them, and it’s a big responsibility to provide. I signed up to be the coach, so I felt obligated to give them all I had. I think it worked out.”

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Fireplug

The Good Hope Outlaws knocked off the Cullman Bearcats 30-0 for the Fireplug championship.

The Outlaws (9-1) got big games quarterback Cooper Johnson as well as Ryker Hancock and Parker Childers. Johnson finished the game with 95 yards and two scores, Hancock added 84 yards and Childers went for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bearcats’ season came to an end at 9-1.

The game was scoreless at the end of the first quarter, but on the third play of the second, Johnson reached the end zone on a 9-yard run, and Childers ran in the 2-point conversion.

Then, after a Bearcat fumble, Childers raced 27 yards to give the Outlaws what would be a 14-0 halftime lead.

The dagger came on the Outlaws’ opening possession of the second half, as Childers sprinted 62 yards for a touchdown. Hancocks’ 2-point conversion run made it 22-0 at the 5:53 mark of the third quarter.

Johnson scored his second touchdown of the game on Good Hope’s next possession, rumbling in for a 3-yard score. Eli Drake ran in the 2-point conversion.

For the Bearcats, Brooks Lofton, Andrew Godwin, Brayden Branch and Nash Nobinger each got carries.

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Wee Wee

Jake Harper and Jordan Ellis led the Fairview Aggies to a 14-12 overtime win over the Cullman Cyclones in the Wee Wee championship game.

Harper’s 2-yard touchdown run in overtime tied it, and then he powered his way into the end zone on the 2-point conversion for the win.

Ellis was the workhorse, carrying 13 times for 112 yards and a first-half touchdown for the Aggies (8-2).

The Cyclones (9-1) got possession first in the extra frame and needed just two plays to score. Asher Drake cruised in for a 3-yard run but was hit hard behind the line on the 2-point conversion attempt.

That set up Harper’s heroics and a wild celebration at the team’s home field.

Fairview had a chance to win it in regulation when the Cyclones fumbled for the fourth time in the game. Zayden Cruce picked up the loose ball and returned it to the Cyclones 24-yard line with just 31 seconds to go. The Cyclones defense held, though, setting up the overtime.

Turnovers marred a first half that also saw its share of explosive plays.

On Fairview’s first play, it put the ball on the ground and the Cyclones recovered at the 37. The Cyclones marched to the 3-yard line, but a fumbled snap on fourth down gave the ball back to the Aggies.

And Ellis made the Cyclones pay.

On the third play of the ensuing Fairview possession, the running back raced 76 yards for a touchdown to give the Aggies a 6-0 lead.

But the Cyclones struck back, getting a 69-yard run from Weston Keel on third and long to set up Drake’s 5-yard scoring run to tie the game at 6-6. Keel finished the a team-high 92 rushing yards. Drake added 77 yards and the two scores.

The Aggies reached the Cyclone 14 before stalling and turning the ball over on downs. Then the Cyclones fumbled again to give it back to Fairview. On the first play of that possession, though, Cyclone defender Rhett Tysinger intercepted a pass to keep the game tied going into halftime.