FINAL: Dale City Cowboys (VA) 19, Dorchester Eagles (MA) 12

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Dale City Begins Repeat Bid

The defending Midget champion Dale City Cowboys from Virginia kicked off this yea'r Pop Warner Super Bowl today and started things off with a win, but it certianly didnt come easy. The defeated a very tough Dorchester Eagles (MA) team by a final score of 19-12.

When the game started, it looked like the Dale City of laste year. They quickly jumped out ahead at the 3:39 mark with an incredible run by #34, the Cowboys feature back. It was a simple pitch right, and it looked as though an Eagles defender had him wrapped up, but a head on collission found the Eagle defender on the ground and the Cowboy's back scampering 20-yards to the endzone. The conversion run was good and just like that, 7-0 Cowboys.

Dale City was on the charge again just a few minutes into the second quarter. A QB keeper was successful from 10 yards out and the Cowboys were no in the lead 13-0. Just when it looked like a runaway game for the Cowboys, they seemed to slow down and the Eagles jumped on the opportunity. They struck down the field quickly and capped off the drive with a running back dive up the middle, which showed a great display of balance, as he made his way into the endzone. The kick was no good but the Cowboys lead was now down to 7 points.

However, justr as things turned around for Dorchester, the momentum quickly turned back to Dale City, after a 35-yard kickoff return down to the Eagle's 40. Two successful passing plays were followed by a nifty fake end around by the QB, and he kept it himself and scampered to the corner of the endzone. They missed the conversion but had quickly jumped back on top by the score of 19-6, which would remain that way until the half.

"We have a lot of new guys on our team," said Asst. Coach D.J. Palmer. "However, our veteran players really stepped up and helped pick up the rest of the team before halftime."

The third quarter saw both teams struggle offensively. The sun was blazing and it appeared to have an effect on both teams.

"The sun really got to us quick," said Palmer, whose team made his way from Virginia just yesterday. "We were like two different teams from the first half to the second half, and I think the sun played a big part in that."

Dorchester managed to step it up a notch late in the thrid quarter as they put together an impressive scoring drive, capped by a 3-yard TD run by their quarterback. After th emissed extra point, the score was now 19-12 and the Eagles were still alive. That is, until the defense of Dale City stepped it up a notch of their own. They managed to shut the Eagles offense down the rest of the game, forcing 5 sacks in the process.

Final Score, Dale City Cowboys 19, Dorchester Eagles 12.

"They just stuck with it all game," said Palmer. "And hats off to all the Eagles players, the woulndt quit and played a tremendous game."

The Cowboys advance to the second round and will play the Goulds Rams from Miami, FL on Wednesday at 3:00. The Eagles will play in the consolation game on Wednesday, at 3:00 as well.