For those who think you have to travel miles and miles to see good football, the youth of Baldwin County has made a major statement in the 2009 recreation department football season to the contrary.

And once again Monday night the undefeated Mite League Champion Wildcats and the Tigers showed you can save the gas and money and see some unbelievable football right here in your own back yard.

’This is a game people actually would have probably given money to see,’ said Wildcats coach Billy Petite.

The Tigers finished off what could be considered a Cinderella comeback Monday, coming from a third place regular season finish to upset the Wildcats by a final score of 12-7.

After a scoreless first quarter the Wildcats scored on a 72-yard run by Noah Lavender as he cut around the left side, slipped three tacklers and outran everyone to pay dirt for a 6-0 lead. Simon Petite then took the ball and went untouched into the end zone for the point after and a 7-0 lead.

Then, after both teams exchanged possessions, the Wildcats would be forced to punt with with 23 seconds before halftime. The Tigers’ Tyrique Jackson would then do his best ’Devin Hester’ impersonation by bobbing and weaving and then bursting for the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown jaunt. But the Wildcats would snuff out the PAT and go into the half leading 7-6.

In the third quarter, the Tigers would take the lead after Jackson would set up his team with a 32-yard run ’ to the 8 yard line. That’s when, after two short runs, Tyler Dawkins would muscle his way in from the 2 yard line for the go ahead touchdown and 12-7 advantage.

This would set up an epic fourth quarter in which both teams would leave it all on the field. After matching each other run for run and hit for hit, the Tigers’ Jackson would intercept the ball at the 19 yard line seemingly preserving the win for his team. But, after the Wildcats forced a fumble with 42 seconds to play, things got really wild.

Lavender would take a pitch and cut around the left end and race 57 yards for a touchdown. But the play was called back on a holding penalty and the Wildcats now had to go 62 yards to score.

After a quick stop, coach Petite’s team raced to the line for one last play. And a play it was as Lavender took a pitch and made his way through tackler after tackler and seemed headed for another touchdown. But with the Stanford-Cal game of NCAA fame in mind, fans would come on the field and try to get out of the players’ way. But as he was avoiding players, parents and fans, Roy Heem Foston would make one last ditch effort and captured Lavender from behind to seal the miracle finish and victory.

’This feels great and I am so proud of these kids. They never gave up and listened to everything we said,’ said Super Bowl winning coach, Cedric Davis. ’We lost a few games by just a few points and then to come back and beat the teams that beat us ’ that shows these kids have character,’

Congratulations to the Tigers for winning the 2009 Mite League Super Bowl Champions!