You’re never too young to be a winner

Mabank midget football team headed to play-off

DEVYN GIBBS IS #8...

By ART LAWLER

The Mabank Panthers (the Midget-League variety) pose for a team picture with their coaches. The team goes to the playoffs this week against the Forney Jackrabbits in Kaufman. If the Panthers survive, they’ll play in the Super Bowl, also in Kaufman, a week from Saturday. Courtesy photo/ (Click for larger image)

Though you can’t really see them between their colliding helmets and shoulder pads, real people exist inside the colorful uniforms of Mabank’s midget-league football teams.

The Mabank Panthers, no less, are in the playoffs. The little ones. Not the big ones.

You didn’t know first and second graders, ages six and seven, now go to the football playoffs, just like the big boys.

That’s right. It’s helmets on top of shoulder pads, on top of football shoes.

You didn’t know first and second graders, ages six and seven, play contact football?

Shoot, the little boys are just like the big boys.

Make that like the big boys and the big girls.

The quarterback on this team is Brianna Martin.

She wears jersey No. 1.

Boy or girl, they’re all part of the Mabank Little League Football Association.

The Panthers compiled a 6-1-1 season record, and will be going to Kaufman for a playoff tournament beginning at 11 a.m. against the Forney Jackrabbits.

The survivors Saturday go to — are you ready for this — The Super Bowl.

Both playoff and Super Bowl games will be played at the Kaufman High School Stadium the next two weekends.

The playoffs games are on Saturday, Nov. 15, and the Super Bowl is set for Nov. 22.

Yes, sometimes the little ones get hurt. Nothing serious, but a tear or two may have to be dried from the tough little faces, on occasion.

The Panthers were just one of the teams from the Tri-County area performing in t he league.

Other communities involved in the play-offs are Eustace, Kaufman, Wills Point, Kemp, Malakoff, and two Forney teams, the Longhorns and the Jackrabbits, and Quinlan.

This league also has homecoming games,

The Saturday games during the regular-season begin at 4 p.m. and run until 8 p.m.

They have cheerleaders and drill teams and halftime shows., too.

The Panthers are coached by Dean Gibbs, an employee of Mabank ISD, though the league has no affiliation with the district.

Admission is $1 for students and $3 for adults.

For more information, call Mike Cathey: 880-8211.



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