Three Blair Youth Football Association (BYFA) teams capped their first seasons in the Metro Youth Football League on Saturday.
The Bears excelled on the turf at Millard North High School, winning all three finales and earning third-place finishes in their age divisions.
The fourth-grade squad bested the Gretna Jr. Dragons 14-6 to earn its trophy. The BYFA team jumped out to a 7-0 lead during the first quarter when Barrett Brown broke a short touchdown run and Crosby Swanson nailed his extra-point kick.
The Jr. Dragons battled back, scoring on a long second-quarter touchdown run. Their 2-point conversion attempt, however, came up short when Brown bashed the Gretna ball carrier to the ground before he could cross the goalline.
Fourth-grade back Eric Welte pushed the Blair lead to 13-6 during the second quarter when he made one cut and ran for a long score down the middle of the field. Swanson's second kick of the ballgame also split the field goal posts as the Bears went up eight.
The Jr. Dragons threatened to tie the game during the fourth quarter, but the BYFA defense held. Tim Neneman made a strong open-field tackle down the stretch before Brown intercepted a Gretna pass.
Ultimately, the Bears were able to run out much of the clock for the win. Landry Larsen had a key first-down catch in the final minutes to do just that.
Blair's third- and eighth-grade football teams also found success at Millard North. The third-graders started the day of games with a 8-0 victory against the Elkhorn Athletic Association Jr. Storm.
Then, in the nightcap, the Bears' eighth-grade team knocked off the Millard United Jr. Wildcats 30-12 to earn their own third-place trophy.
