Vipers, Vikings, and Spiders Win AYFL Championships

This week was important for football in Ashburn. Not only did all three high school football teams win their opening playoff games, but the Ashburn Youth Football League (AYFL) had its championship games on Saturday, Nov. 13. 

The winners were:

A - League (seventh and eighth grade): Vipers beat the Falcons 24-8.

B - League (fifth and sixth grade): Vikings edged out the Mustangs in the last few minutes of the game with a 19-15 win.

C - League (third and fourth grade): Spiders defeated the Lions 36-0.

A whole season's worth of blood, sweat and tears boiled down to one day.

Not only do the teams that go to the championships get bragging rights, but they experienced, in part, what it's like to play on a high school football team. The championship games were played in the Stone Bridge High School football stadium and the action was announced play-by-play over the stadium speakers–a dream come true for the young boys.

The youth tackle football league celebrated its 10th anniversary this year and had nearly 900 players this season, according to AYFL President Troy Cromwell. The league also includes a D-League, developmental tackle football division for 6 and 7 year olds. What would football be without cheerleaders? Of course, AYFL also has cheerleading squads for the various leagues.

Many of Ashburn's high school football players are groomed for their future success by playing in the AYFL. The league's partnerships with the Ashburn high schools' coaching staffs distinguish it from other youth football leagues.

"All the high school coaches know the kids that are coming to their school in the second grade," Cromwell explained.

Another thing that makes the league so special is that it stresses teaching both, its players and coaches the fundamentals that they need to succeed.

"The way we train and certify our coaches, the partnerships that we have with local high school coaches, and the commitment of the kids and the parents," Cromwell said, are what make AYFL so special.

Even during the off season, AYFL works hard to prepare its players. For the past several summers, the league has offered contact football training camps for kids to learn the fundamentals of tackle football. The camps include coaching by local high school coaches, players and even some Washington Redskin players.

AYFL strives to help its players succeed both on and off the football field, Cromwell explained.

"Our goal is to make it the best hour of that day for each kid … and also to keep us aligned with the high schools to teach them the stuff they need to know to be successful players, to teach them good sportsmanship, how to win and to lose, and how to be overall good kids," Cromwell said. 

This year, the league also partnered with several other youth football leagues in Loudoun County to begin interleague games. The AYFL league champions will play the Lower Loudoun Boys Football League champions in the first Eastern Loudoun County Championship games. The championship games will take place next Saturday, Nov. 20, at Bill Allen Field, 401 South Sterling Boulevard, in Sterling. There will be a $2 entrance fee to watch the games. For schedules and more information on the Eastern Loudoun County Championship games, visit the AYFL website at http://www.ayfl.org/.

Next year, fans can look forward to Upper and Central Loudoun Youth Football Leagues getting in on the action to crown the Loudoun County Youth Football League Champions.