AHOSKIE – Three years ago, members of the newly formed Midget Football League team in Ahoskie didn’t know the difference between a &uot;pancake&uot; block and a blitz. On Saturday (Dec. 6), they’ll see just how far they’ve come in a very short period of time.

Beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Hertford County High School football field, members of the Ahoskie Bobcats – both the 8-10 year-old division and the 11-12 year-olds – will complete their miraculous run from the bottom of the league to the pinnacle as each squad will participate in the 2003 Midget League Football Super Bowl.

The 8-10 year-olds, under the direction of head coach Lloyd Ireland, will host the Edenton Aces at 1 p.m. Two hours later (3 p.m.), the 11-12 year-old version of the Bobcats, with coach Jerome Burden at the helm, will square-off against the Gates County Hurricanes with the 2003 Super Bowl trophy on the line.

Admission is free to both games and concessions will be offered for sale.

&uot;I’ve got to say what a wonderful job our coaches have done to prepare these teams in order to reach this level,&uot; said Tim &uot;Tuck&uot; Lassiter, Commissioner of Bobcats Football. &uot;Three years ago we were the laughingstock of the league and now we’re playing for the league championship. It doesn’t get any better than that.&uot;

Lassiter also praised the parents of the players for their support. He went on to offer thanks to HCHS head football coach Dealton Cotton for the use of the high school facilities and for his help in setting-up the team’s defensive schemes.

&uot;Coach (Eddie) Allen over at the middle school and coach Cotton here at the high school will be the beneficiaries of these talented young men down the line,&uot; noted Lassiter. &uot;We wanted to start Midget League football here in Ahoskie for that purpose – teaching the basic fundamentals to these young players, which will prepare them for playing at the next level.&uot;

During the regular season, the 8-10 year-old team posted a 4-2 regular season record. In the play-offs, they defeated Currituck in opening round action and then scored a touchdown in the final 15 seconds to edge Elizabeth City, 6-0, to advance to the Super Bowl.

Meanwhile, the 11-12 year-olds won the regular season title with a spotless 8-0 record. They were awarded an opening round bye in the play-offs and defeated Edenton, 30-6, to earn a spot in Saturday’s championship game.

Other teams participating in Midget League football are Camden and Bertie County. All teams play by regular high school rules. The only difference is that the playing field is 20 yards shorter.

Both Ahoskie teams were supported by donations made through the generosity of local businesses.