Sandpoint Grid Kids football teams post winning records
(Courtesy photo) The Sandpoint Grid Kids 6th grade football team posted a solid 6-1 season this fall, ending with a 40-16 win over Riverside in the championship.
SANDPOINT — The 2017 Sandpoint YMCA Grid Kids Junior Tackle Season has wrapped up for the year and as we look back on the accomplishments of players and coaches it is not always about wins and losses in youth tackle football. However, this year’s YMCA Grid Kids teams certainly had a lot of winning to go along with the life lessons learned by the sport of football.
All grade levels posted winning records and each team posted at least one win in the annual playoffs. The performances of these teams were highlighted by the 6th grade level defending their league championship en route to a 6-1 overall record. Coach Brent Eacret’s 6th grade squad posted a 40-16 win in the championship game over Riverside, which was the only team that had previously beaten them in regular season play.
The 5th grade team coached by Kurt Lehman and assisted by Todd Newhart, Ryan Leisy, and others posted a 4-3 record. This 5th grade team made dramatic improvements over the course of the season. Every player not limited by weight as a ball carrier had an opportunity to rush or receive the football at least once. Of the two players that were weight limited, both of them had the opportunity to play center which means every player on the team had the chance to touch the football.
The 7th grade team coached by Dylan Benefield, Jay VanDenBerg, Tyler Pettit and others finished the season with a 5-2 record. With over 27 players fielded on this team they were in every game this season and with a few different bounces of the ball could have gone undefeated. In their final game of the season the 7th grade football team won their playoff bracket beating Mead 16-0.
The 8th grade team coached by Rob Sherrill finished the season 6-2 with their only two losses coming against the same team. The 8th grade squad made it to the playoff championship game, losing the final game 18-0. With explosive players on both offense and defense the future looks bright for the incoming freshman class.
The Sandpoint YMCA Grid Kids youth football program would like to thank Sandpoint coach George Yarno for his endorsement and guidance. Grids Kids prides itself in preparing young athletes to compete at the high school level and exhibit excellent sportsmanship. If you have a child between 3rd through 8th grade interested in participating for the 2018 season in a successful and established program backed by coach Yarno, email sandpointfootball@gmail.com.