- May 8, 2024
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The North Flagler Wildcats are planning to stick together and play next year, Coach Durell Preston said. Courtesy photo
A group of road warriors — they played every football game on the road this season — not only survived but finished as champions.
The North Flagler Wildcats won the 11- to 13-year-old division of the Orlando-based Central Florida Youth Football League on Saturday, May 8.
For the majority of the players, this is the third year playing together, after two years in Pop Warner, said coach Durell Preston. The team won four out of five games in the regular season, despite some injuries and illnesses. They were full strength for the playoffs, however, and won the title.
Preston was impressed with the parents’ dedication and support of the players and coaches. All the games were played in Orlando — no home games.
“I have multiple kids who play different sports, and so we have one parent who drove one of our players down to football and also had a baseball tournament the same day — so they drove to Orlando and then New Smyrna just so the kid could pay both sports,” Preston said.
Preston himself played at St. Augustine High School, then Youngstown State University and then arena football. He hopes to bring the eligible Wildcats players together for another season. Younger players are also welcome in the program; more teams could be formed and lead to a novelty for the local players: home games.
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