The Tamarac Cougars 11U club held on to defeat the Miramar Wolverines 13-12 to advance to the AYFL Super Bowl. Coach Andre “Dre” Richards and his club have been on a mission all season long and look to avenge last year’s one-point Super Bowl loss to the Boynton Beach Bulldogs.

Tamarac Cougars quarterback Othniel Rhoden Jr. follows his offensive line blockers to score on a two-yard touchdown run versus the Miramar Wolverines.
Tamarac Cougars quarterback Othniel Rhoden Jr. follows his offensive line blockers to score on a two-yard touchdown run versus the Miramar Wolverines.

Standing in the way this year are those same Bulldogs who are the defending Super Bowl champions. The Cougars are 12-0 this season, while the Bulldogs are sporting an 11-1 record. The only loss came at the hands of the Cougars earlier this season.

Cougars quarterback Othniel Rhoden Jr. reaches back to throw a 45-yard touchdown completion to receiver Darrell McDonald.
Cougars quarterback Othniel Rhoden Jr. reaches back to throw a 45-yard touchdown completion to receiver Darrell McDonald.

The strength of the Cougars is the offensive and defensive line play. The Cougars have dominated the battle at the line of scrimmage and will rely on those players to take care of business with the goal of winning the Super Bowl.

The Wolverines struck first with a 10-yard touchdown run by Arrelious Hodge Jr. The Cougars methodically ran the ball down the field and relied mainly on running back Javaris Cason. With the Wolverines defense focused on stopping the run, the Cougars went to the air with quarterback Othniel Rhoden Jr. finding receiver Tranilleus Bellot with a long completion down to the two-yard line. Rhoden followed his big offensive lineman into the end zone to tie the score at 6-6 as they headed into halftime.

Tamarac Cougars player Darrell McDonald makes an open field tackle during a Wolverines punt return.
Tamarac Cougars player Darrell McDonald makes an open field tackle during a Wolverines punt return.

In the third quarter, Rhoden went to the air again with a 45-yard strike to receiver Darrell McDonald who turned on the jets for a touchdown. The successful PAT by Rhoden gave the Cougars a 13-6 lead they would not relinquish.

The Tamarac Cougars offensive line prepares to battle it out against the Miramar Wolverines and will be counted on in the AYFL Super Bowl.
The Tamarac Cougars offensive line prepares to battle it out against the Miramar Wolverines and will be counted on in the AYFL Super Bowl.

The Cougars have relied on the strong defense of Mekhi Thames, Noah Del Pino, Amauri Rogers and Joshua Peters. In the offensive backfield, Rhoden can confidently hand the ball off to running backs Cason, Fredrick Flowers and Jonathan Rivers. The air attack will rely on a talented core of receivers led by Ethan Jones who usually attracts double team attention as well as McDonald, Bellot and Mi’kye Watkins.

Cougars running back Javaris Cason Jr. breaks free from the Wolverines defense for a big gain at Boggs field.
Cougars running back Javaris Cason Jr. breaks free from the Wolverines defense for a big gain at Boggs field.

“Every time we needed a big play, our quarterback came up big and he puts it right on the money,” Richards said. “We get Boynton again for this Super Bowl. The strength of our team is our offensive and defensive line and without them nothing goes. We have unfinished business, and we are going to bring home the trophy.”

The Tamarac Cougars 11U team rallied to defeat the Miramar Wolverines 13-12 to advance to the AYFL Super Bowl at Hollywood's PAL Boggs field.
The Tamarac Cougars 11U team rallied to defeat the Miramar Wolverines 13-12 to advance to the AYFL Super Bowl at Hollywood’s PAL Boggs field.