West Lynn Pop Warner falls short of national title

The West Lynn turned in a stellar defensive performance against a high scoring Palm Bay, Fla. team, but came up just short in a 6-0 loss in the Pop Warner Midgets Division II National Championship game held Friday afternoon at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.Palm Bay scored on a run from five or six yards out in the fourth quarter. West Lynn got the ball back on a turnover late in the game, but couldn’t put together a dive.The Rams were up against a team that was undefeated (17-0) heading into the game with 14 of those wins being shutouts.”Our defense was spectacular. We gave up only one touchdown in regulation (during the nationals),” coach Maurice Cordy said, citing the play of Alonzo Robinson, Alphonso Robinson, Jaquan Hendricks, Cody Mullen, Tyshawn Anderson and Juan Rodriguez.Cordy said the Florida teams tend to to very well at the nationals, usually winning five or six of the eight titles.”It was a hard fouth defensive game. Every single game this year they (Palm Bay) scored over 30 points. In some games they scored over 30 points in the first quarter,” he said.Cordy said after the game, Palm Bay coaches told the Lynn coaches it was by far the toughest game of the year for them. Cordy said his team will head home feeling it accomplished a lot knowing how good Palm Bay is and how it has dominated against other teams. Cordy said with 11 of the 13 players coming back, he expects to be able to make another good run next year..West Lynn reached the national championship game with a 14-0 win over the Southside Cyclones from Rochester, N.Y. And and 8-6 overtime win against the Greensboro (N.C.) Ravens. The Rockets reached the championship game with a 35-0 win over Bay City, Ca., and then a 34-0 win over the New Birth, Ohio, Warriors.West Lynn was scheduled to leave for home this morning for the 23-24 hour trip home. Cordy was hoping they would be able to dodge the snow. While they were at Disney, the players were able to visit a couple of the parks including the Animal Kingdom.