Cowboys earn trip back to nationals

Mark Schultz held the gold trophy high and preached the season-long message to the kids huddled in silver, white and blue before him.

"You guys," he said, "you finished."

A year after being denied a third straight trip to the American Youth Football national tournament, coach Schultz's Addison Cowboys are back.

The Cowboys Junior Midget team beat the Naperville Patriots 38-6 in the championship of the Chicagoland AYF Sunday at Benedictine University in Lisle. Addison advances to the AYF national tournament Dec. 1-8 in Orlando.

The Cowboys had advanced to nationals for two straight years, winning it all as Junior Pee Wees three years ago. But last year Hoffman Estates beat them in overtime. No trip to Florida.

"We thought about that loss all year," Schultz said. "This year we weren't going to let that happen."

A core of eight of the kids have been together since Junior Pee Wees. Several are eighth-graders, in their last year of AYF football.

"That's pretty much what it was all about this year," Schultz said. "This was our last year with this core group. We wanted them to finish the way that they started, as champions."

Addison (11-0) led just 8-6 on Sunday after a 28-yard touchdown run by Naperville quarterback Tyler Gehr with 9:50 left in the second quarter.

But the Cowboys scored two touchdowns before halftime, and never looked back.

Quarterback Anthony Catanese scored on an 11-yard keeper, and Greg Schultz's 5-yard run made it 24-6 at the half.

Catanese's 6-yard touchdown pass to Michael Imperiale pushed the lead to 32-6. Schultz's 41-yard touchdown run in the final seconds of the third quarter capped off the scoring.

"They often call us like a machine," Catanese said. "Once we get going we usually don't stop."

Strong-footed kicker Juan Hurculano booted four extra points, Imperiale earlier scored on a touchdown run, and Scotty Babica intercepted a pass.

"They've always done whatever we asked them to do," coach Schultz said. "It's been a great, great run for these guys. I couldn't ask for anything more."