Columbus (OH) vs. Southwest (NC)

“Browns Cage Cardinals! ”

If there's one thing that old school football fans respect its blue-collar, lunch-pail, ball control football. And today, any Pop Warner fan who was lucky enough to attend the Columbus (OH) Browns vs. Southwest (NC) Cardinals Division 1 Midget game, saw “blue collar” football at its best!

“We were 2-8 last year. We started this year with five new guys and a 5-3 record” reflected the Browns quarterback of his teams accomplishments over the past season, “and now…hey, we're in Florida. “ They are here, all right, and for good reason. The Columbus Browns came to Disney on the strength of determination , perseverance and a WILL to win. They also benefited from a few coaches and mentors who believed so much in these kids that they paid for the team's trip to the Pop Warner National Championships from their own wallets.

That dedication paid off in an opening game performance that saw the Browns grind it out on a series of wing-t drives , highlighted by pitches and fullback plunges, to pound the ball downfield. That said, it was a surprise swing pass which led to one of the Browns two scores that propelled them into a third quarter 14-0 lead.

That's when the flashy Cardinals struck… and struck quickly. They marched downfield with a series of sweeps and passes. The surge culminated in a pitch-out to their tailback and a 35 yard scamper into the end zone. A penalty for excessive celebration set the ball back ten yards, but the Cardinals again pitched out and tallied a single PAT to make the score Browns 14-Cardinals 7 with 4:30 left in the third quarter.

With both teams trading long drives that ended in turnovers, the Browns took over in their own territory with 7:37 left in the game. That's when the Browns staged a down field, hammer-it-out drive reminiscent of the old Green Bay Packers. Keeping the ball within the tackles, the Browns suddenly surprised everyone with a key twenty-yard pass play to keep the drive going deep into Cardinals territory.

Then, with 1:17 left in the game. the fired up Redbirds staged a defensive stand to take over on their own ten yard line. But, the Browns secondary was up to the challenge. A key hit on the streaking Cardinals wide out dislodged a would-be pass completion deep in the Browns territory. And, a last ditch toss by the slick Cardinal quarterback was intercepted by the alert Columbus secondary. Final score – Browns 14-Cardinals 7.

Congratulations to both Columbus and Southwest on a classic Pop Warner Midget game. The Browns now go on to meet the powerful Dorchester Eagles in a semi-final game on Wednesday, while the Cardinals take on the Rancho Bernardo Broncos in a consolation game. Both tilts will be played at fabulous Disney Wide World of Sports.