UMB, Green Machine victorious in AYA Super Bowl games

Published 12:03 am Wednesday, November 5, 2014

United Mississippi Bank’s Jake Harriston tackles Delta Bank’s JuVari Singleton during the AYA Superbowl at Trinity Episcopal Tuesday. UMB won the game 24-12. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)

United Mississippi Bank’s Jake Harriston tackles Delta Bank’s JuVari Singleton during the AYA Superbowl at Trinity Episcopal Tuesday. UMB won the game 24-12. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — Four AYA teams took the field at Trinity Episcopal Day School Tuesday night, but only two were able to walk away with an AYA Super Bowl championship.

United Mississippi Bank took home the third and fourth grade championship, while the Green Machine locked up the fifth and sixth grade title.

UMB defeated Delta Bank 24-12, and the Green Machine took down Silas Simmons 22-0.

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“I think we played really well,” UMB head coach Kemp Hairston said. “I knew Delta Bank would be a tough game, and it would be trouble trying to contain them.”

Delta Bank scored on the first play of the game, and the first play of the second half, but UMB was able to keep them at bay the rest of the way.

“All in all they played with everything they had,” Delta Bank head coach Boo Blaney said. “They gave a lot of heart.”

UMB controlled the ball and the clock for most of the game, applying a ground and pound style of offense.

“We aren’t going to outrun anyone,” Hairston said. “We just run it straight at them.”

UMB jumped out to a 16-6 halftime lead, but Delta Bank was able to draw within four at 16-12 in the third.

UMB sealed the win in the fourth with a touchdown run by Jake Hairston, his second of the night.

Mason Moore was the other player to score for UMB, while Juvari Singleton and Tyrin Singleton scored for Delta Bank.

UMB finished the season undefeated, and Hairston said he couldn’t be more proud of their effort all year.

“For 8- and 9-year-olds, they did extremely well,” he said.

In the later game, it was all Green Machine.

Jaylen Moore led the way, scoring two touchdowns and recording 105 rushing yards in the contest.

“We had 25 kids on the team this year that gave 100 percent effort,” Green Machine head coach John Ward Junkin said. “It is great to see kids put in the effort and come out on top with a championship.”

Both of Moore’s touchdown runs came in the first half, and Aiden Whitaker capped the scoring with a touchdown run late in the third quarter.

Even though just two teams left the field with a win, in the coach’s eyes, everyone was a winner.

“It is all about teaching the kids the basics,” said Blaney of the AYA program. “Win or lose, they are always a winner, and when they do go and play at a higher level, they already know the basics of the game.”