TD Gold claims Gorge Youth crown

Beyond what transpired Saturday, several players on the Gold team roster discussed someday playing for The Dalles varsity head coach Steve Sugg and wearing a Crimson and Gold uniform.

“I want to be a Riverhawk,” said Caldwell, a linebacker and running back. “It would mean a lot to wear that uniform. It will feel good.”

With the contest scoreless through most of the third quarter, the Gold team moved the ball down the field in one of their most successful drives.

Caldwell wound up the drive, taking a handoff from DeLeon and crossing the goalline for a touchdown.

DeLeon converted the extra point on a scramble to make it a 7-0 score.

The Gold team defense held strong to keep the Maroon players off the scoreboard for the title.

“It feels really good to win. It is really fun to play out here with all of my friends, playing football and tackling kids,” DeLeon added.

From the humble beginnings at the start of camp in August, Gold team coach Elijah Preston felt his team had a chance to make a championship run, but quickly stated it was not his lone goal.

It is about developing football players at the ground level and moving them up through middle school and the high school varsity team, he said.

Coach Preston sees the type of talent currently in the seventh and eighth grades, so with further instruction, they could be key contributors sooner rather than later.

It is all a process, however.

“No. 1, to teach the boys football fundamentals. Foundation-level fundamentals such as tackling and blocking,” Preston said. “My second goal with these boys is to have fun. I want to instill a love for the sport so that by the time they are 14--years old, they are playing on this field (Sid White).”

“The entire point of this is to develop boys, so coach (TD head football coach Steve Sugg) has a good base of kids to work with in the future,” Preston said

In looking at the numbers, parents and children are starting to believe in the program.

This season, GYFL had 80 kids, from the third-through-sixth grades, and 40 at the flag level, which consists of athletes from kindergarten-through-second grades, for the largest total ever.

If the signees are going to grow, whether at the youth level, middle school or high school, Preston said the biggest element is having everyone from coaches, players and administrators on the same page.

From playbooks, communication, organization and overall camaraderie, the whole purpose of the GYFL is to instill a seamless program.

The Gold team won all seven of their games this fall campaign and showed that dedication and heart mean a lot in the grand scheme of things.

Wins and losses aside, Preston wants to see well-rounded individuals who are studious, respectful, disciplined and committed.

“I love watching the kids develop into great athletes, but more importantly, great young men,” Preston said. “We are trying to set some guidance and create a pathway for players to develop into great middle school and high school kids.”

Preston and others are of the mindset that any kid who wants to participate in football, should be allowed.

Money or lack thereof should not play a role in whether a kid plays sports.

“I am heavily involved in Little League, I am a board member. I am the president of the wrestling club and a board member for football. Finances are never, ever an issue,” Preston said.

“We will make sure that every kid that wants to be on the field, on the mat or on the court, will play,” he explained.

For information or to volunteer, call 541-340-6610.

Keep tabs on the league through www.facebook.com /TDYFootball.