12U Chargers ‘Win It For Sunshine’, Defeat GORC For Championship

All season long, the 12U Chargers played for Sunshine, their teammate, Brad Cropper, too ill to join them on the field in pads and helmets but always in their minds and hearts.

All season long, the 12U Chargers knew the Gambrills-Odenton Wildcats would be their toughest competition.

On November 14 at Chesapeake High School, the Chargers did their teammate and community proud, resoundingly defeating their archrival Wildcats 45-19 in the Anne Arundel Youth Football Association American Division championship game, capturing the elusive championship and winning it for Sunshine.

Mykeal Hamilton rushed for touchdowns of 31, 31, 66 and 63 yards; Jayon Venerable added scores of 39 and 74 yards, and the Chargers finished off a 3-0 playoff run to finish the league season with a 12-1 record and a county title.

“I'm just so proud I can’t even get my emotions into words,” said head coach Markel Long. “I love this team, the parents and the fans. The support we get is unreal. Our team played for Sunshine and was unstoppable.”

In addition to winning for their teammate, the Chargers took the upper hand in what has developed into an awesome youth rivalry over the past several years.

The Wildcats won the championship over the Chargers as 90-pounders in 2012 and again as 11Us in 2014. The Chargers won the league championship over the Wildcats as 100-pounders in 2013, then again this season.

Pasadena’s only loss of the season came in Week 2 against the Wildcats by a score of 33-13, but they came back to defeat GORC 31-12 on homecoming weekend before ultimately winning the teams’ third meeting of the season in the championship game.

Cropper could not be in attendance, but his father, Lee Cropper was in attendance and accepted Brad’s championship trophy on his behalf.

The team, made up of Elyjha Powell, Ka’ron Tolson, Avrey Holliday, Trent McNeill, Jayon Venerable, Brandon Jordan, Otis Gray, Nasir Phoenix, Justin McNeill, Cameron Carr, Anthony Bedell, Myles Macon, Colin Cook, Tyreese Wilborn, Mykeal Hamilton, Shamar Strong, John Amoroso, Terron Teasley, Cody Parrott, Darren Bennett, Latif Holmes, Hunter Joeckel, Daniel Rayhart, Stephen Sommers and Jaden Derry went on to play in the state tournament, defeated the Parkville Patriots on November 21 at Southern High School and will play in the state championship game in early December.

Coach Long, who coaches the team with Marlo Helm, Charles Kirby and Dave Matthews, touted the Chargers’ work ethic.

“I myself couldn't be more proud of the way these boys played,” said Long. “The energy on defense was tremendous. All the hard work we put in, all the running we do, all that off season training, is all for this moment. Nobody works harder than us.”

Coach Helm stated, “As a team we had one goal this season, and that was to win the championship for Brad ‘Sunshine’ Cropper. The kids worked hard, and they trusted the process and stayed the course. The result ended with what they put on the scoreboard [in the championship game]. Mission accomplished.”

Coach Kirby saw concentration and teamwork as key, saying “They’re a hard-working team that when we focus together, it always, always pays off.”

Coach Matthews said the lessons learned this year go well beyond football.

“I’m extremely proud of this group of young men, not only for winning the championship, but for bonding and banding together,” said Matthews. “This year was way bigger than a football game. There were a lot of life lessons that came out of this season.”