The Juneau Youth Football League Junior Division Buckeyes capped an undefeated season with a 38-6 win over the Gators on Saturday afternoon at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park.
Quincy Malacas ran for three touchdowns in the win, while Bubba Burras added two of his own. Buckeyes head coach LaTroy Burras said the two shifty running backs were a big reason for the team’s 8-0 season, highlighted by numerous five touchdown games.
“We had a lot of good blocks; a lot of good blocks around the edges so we could seal those edges then we could get those guys on the edge and go,” LaTroy Burras said. “And they were strong, too. So it helps to be strong and fast.”
The Buckeyes’ 19-0 win over the Ducks in Week 3 was the only time they were held under 30 points. The Gators defeated the Ducks 46-18 and the Buckeyes trounced the Hawkeyes 45-12 in the semifinals the weekend prior to advance to the championship.
It was Bubba Burras’ fourth consecutive JYFL championship season. But that wasn’t the case for most of his teammates.
“Looking back on my past seasons, I haven’t really won anything,” Malacas said. “It’s my first championship, ever.”
The Junior Division, made up of fifth and sixth graders, was the only tackle division with four teams. The Cubs Division (third and fourth graders) and Senior Division (seventh and eight graders) both had three teams this season.
The Tigers took down the Blue Devils 12-0 in the Cub Division Championship earlier in the day. Tigers coach Brandon Ridle called the championship a “defensive battle.” After a scoreless first quarter, Noah Lewis scored a touchdown in the second quarter, and the Tigers led 6-0 at halftime. Hayden Link found the end zone in the second half and the Blue Devils couldn’t chip into the deficit.
“All the teams play as a team; they play with heart,” Ridle said. “There wasn’t one team that dominated this year, because the Blue Devils went 4-2 (in the regular season) also.”
Jamal Johnson scored the game-winning touchdown to lift the Raiders to a 32-24 win over the Steelers in the Senior Division Championship game.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.
The 2018 Juneau Youth Football League Senior Division Champion Raiders.
The 2018 Juneau Youth Football League Cubs Division Champion Tigers.
