By Bobby Narang- Photos by Renee Kaspar
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p414499268**
AURORA— On a steamy and sunny Saturday afternoon, the 8U Aurora Gators youth football team chose to pick its spots at Fichtel Field.
Playing their first game of the season, the Gators played fast, aggressively and relied on electric plays in a statement game against the Addison Cowboys in Division 3 play.
The Gators served notice to their future opponents: BEWARE!
Led by a big-play running game, the Gators scored 19 points in the first half to cruise to a 25-13 victory over the Cowboys at Aurora Marmion.
Aurora Gators coach Cliff “Big Homie” said the offensive line was a key factor in helping ignite the running game, noting their blocking downfield and ability to push the Cowboys’ defensive line back a few yards.
“The kids had a lot of discipline,” he said. “We didn’t run too many different plays, just the same plays. They had trouble stopping us. I have four dominant running backs. All of them wanted to run and get into the end zone. I used them all, but I give credit to my offensive line. I have about 500 pounds on the offensive line. They were moving guys around. The team has determination and I feel like they are going to go far this season.
“This team can be unstoppable. The defense was great. Our defense did a good job in the first half and shut them out, but everyone got gassed out in the second half. They got a couple of scores in on us at the end. We have to play until the end, but the defense did a lot of good things out there.”
Although the Cowboys suffered a tough loss, the season opener did showcase several positives for the visiting team.
Addison Cowboys coach Christopher Cornelius called the opener a tale of two halves. “We got off to a slow start,” he said. “We have a bunch of kids who are seven years old and still trying to develop them. It was hard as coaches not to be on the field. We were kind of like an old car and had to warm up and then got going. These kids are seven and eight in an 8U division. I’m proud of these kids and all about the development. We have a lot to look forward to this season.”
The Cowboys opened the game with an impressive nine-play drive, sparked by Marcos Baez leading the way. Baez had a stellar 16-yard run on the fifth play of the possession, while Namir Adams added a six-yard run to the 50-yard line before Aurora’s defense buckled down and stopped the drive.
Whereas the Cowboys chewed up yards in small chunks for the majority of the game, the Gators took a different approach and leaned more on big plays. Zion Smith was at the center of the action all game for the Gators, putting his team on the board for the first time in the 2026 season with an electric 38-yard touchdown run for a 6-0 lead at the 2:30 mark in the first quarter. Smith darted to his left, cut back and raced along the sidelines for his first TD of the season.
The Gators added to their lead when Smith found paydirt again on the second possession, when he scored on an eight-yard TD for a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Cowboys lost a key fumble on their third possession, which was recovered by Royce Burton. The home team quickly added to their advantage with a 21-yard TD run by Smith to seize a 19-0 lead.
Smith had a highlight-reel touchdown, sprinting left, then darting down the field, but stopped at the 2-yard line, allowing an Addison defender to race by, while Smith eased into the end zone.
Trailing 19-0, the Cowboys suddenly turned into a different team. Instead of falling victim to fatigue or giving up due to the big deficit, the Cowboys played loose and wore down the home team. Adams set the tone with a 30-yard run on a reverse, but Aurora ended the threat thanks to a solid tackle by Mosiah Wilkerson on fourth down in the red zone.
In the second half, the Gators added some insurance on Wilkerson’s 45-yard TD run for a 25-0 lead. The Cowboys countered with a stellar 50-yard run on the first play of the ensuing possession. Adams broke free, made a stellar cutback to get the ball to the 15-yard line.
The Cowboys’ defense tightened up in the final quarter and a half, not allowing any points the rest of the game. Grayson Michael James Boyce was a key factor in the game for the Cowboys, blowing up the middle of the Gators’ offensive line with his strength and power, including two key defensive plays on Aurora’s second possession of the second half.
Addison managed to cut the deficit down to 25-13 on a 4-yard TD run by Caylum Cornelius on the left side with 1:30 remaining in regulation. Boyce added another memorable highlight by plowing his way into the end zone on the point-after-attempt.
“I think we played good and I was happy to have a few sacks,” Boyce said. “I liked that coach put me in as a running back. I was happy to get the two points.”
Aurora running back/linebacker Zion Smith was the star of the game. Smith said the entire team played a role in the victory. “I had so many good blocks all game long,” Smith said. “The defense did good too.”
Aurora quarterback/running back Torrence Neal said it was a good day for the offense. “We did good on offense and we ran the ball really good today,” Neal said.
Aurora defensive end Easton Smith said the defense played great. “We practiced hard and we kept pushing hard all game,” Smith said.
Gators linebacker’ August Stinnett, who also played quarterback, said it was a solid team win. “I think the offense did okay, but we just have to work on some blocking and snaps. We never gave up and didn’t quit.”
Addison’s Baez said Saturday’s game was a good start for the team. “The defense improved in the second half,” Baez said. “We practiced hard for this game.”
Cowboy’s Cornelius agreed with his teammate. “It was a fun game and I scored a touchdown.”
Oher Cowboys giving their all were Brayden Acosta, Nicholas Caldwell, Mekhi Calloway, Santino Campeglia, Mateo Ceballos, Anthony Freeman, Thomas Hansen, Isael Hurtado, Ramesses Love, Marcelo Malik, Marcello Martinez, Wesley Mayapis, John Merrittello Jr., and Michael Musillami.
Other Aurora Gators that contributed in the win included Manuel Calderon, Keanu Stewart, Carter McDonald, Jocel Wilson, Adrian Gallegos, Moses Cruz, Justin Hazelwood-Correa, Francisco Aguiniga, Dangelo Rivera, Carmari Floyd, Shaziah Collins, Jordan Portillo, DeMir Williams, Alonzo Gay and Orlando Alvarado.
