West Lynn Pop Warner prevails in OT

The West Lynn Rams are one game away from winning the Pop Warner Division 2 Midget national championship.The Rams won a thrilling 8-6 overtime game over the Greensboro (N.C.) Ravens. The win puts the Rams in the national championship game Friday against the Palm Beach Rockets (at a time to be determined). It?ll be streamed on ESPN3.com.The game remained scoreless after four quarters, but after Greensboro scored first in the overtime, Cody Mullen — who also scored a touchdown in Saturday?s tournament-opening win — scored on a fourth-down play from the Greensboro 2 (teams start on the 10 and have four chances to score). Tony Garcia booted the conversion (which, in Pop Warner, is worth two points) for the win.?It went right through the middle,” said coach Maurice Cordy.There may not have been much scoring during regulation, but there was much tension. West Lynn had a good drive going in the second quarter, moving the ball down the field in 17 plays. But it went for naught after a fumble stalled the drive.Greensboro blocked two West Lynn punts, and one of them was almost returned for a touchdown.?After they blocked it,” Cordy said, “I just put my head down. The kid was able to catch it on the run, so he had a good head start.”However, West Lynn?s Alphonso Robinson ran the Greensboro player down, and tackled him on the Rams? 20.?That was huge, because they (Greensboro) didn?t cash in,” said Cordy. “That tackle saved the game.”?We moved the ball pretty well in the first half,” Cordy said. “It was more of a dogfight in the second half.”