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Arrows hit the target
Seneca Valley youth football team wins title
Source:
Butler Eagle
Written by:
Derek Pyda
Published:
January 25, 2012
CRANBERRY TWP — At one point during their season last fall, the Greater 19 Youth Football League’s Super Bowl may have seemed out of reach for the Seneca Valley Arrows.
The 8- and 9-year-old squad suffered several key injuries early on and lost its first three games by a combined score of 71-27.
“Our message to the kids was that we can still win,” said Arrows head coach Steve Rocco. “I stressed the fundamentals and winning the individual battles.”
The Arrows responded by winning six of their next seven contests, the last being a 13-7 win over Peters Township White in the Super Bowl, held Nov. 5 at North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium.
“I’m always going to remember the kids overcoming long odds,” said Rocco. “They never quit and persevered through so much.”
To turn a losing season around, there needs to be that all-important first victory. For the Arrows, it came with a road game against Chartiers Valley Red on Sept. 25.
SV prevailed 7-0, then won two of its last three regular season games to clinch the seventh seed in the league playoffs.
“Chartiers Valley is a tough team,” said Rocco. “That win was definitely the turning point of our season. After that, our kids realized we could do it.”
The postseason began with the Arrows knocking off third-seeded Upper St. Clair 12-7, setting up a rematch with rival North Allegheny Black.
NA had handed the Arrows a 27-7 defeat on Sept. 17, but the semifinal playoff was a different story.
SV scored five touchdowns from at least 30 yards out in a 31-19 win.
“Our athletes had a lot to do with that win, scoring on so many long plays,” said Rocco.
The Arrows had reached the doorstep of a league title, but the final step would be the most difficult.
Standing in SV’s way was a Peters Township White team that had surrendered just six points all season.
“We had nothing to lose,” said Rocco. “The kids were a success no matter what happened in the title game. I told them that I knew they could win, but it would take their best effort.”
SV set the tone on the opening kickoff, successfully executing a reverse for a quick touchdown.
With SV leading 13-7 late in the fourth quarter, Peters Township had the ball inside the Arrows’ 2-yard line.
“They got the play off just before the clock ran out and went off tackle,” said Rocco. “Several of our guys came together to stuff them just short.
“It was so frantic at the end.”
Rocco believes his team’s 6-4 season offers a lesson that reaches beyond the gridiron.
“Work hard, dream big and good things will happen,” he said.
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