Athlete Spotlight: Waterford Junior Lancers

The Southern New England Youth Football Conference features 13 towns and nearly 1,000 youth players from Westerly to Danielson to East Lyme and everywhere in between. Less than 150 kids can say they ever played in a conference championship or Super Bowl.

Five Waterford players, however, have appeared in three straight SNEYFC championship games and many others have played in one or two straight for the local youth league. After winning the Micro Division (95 pounds and under) for two straight years, T.J. McBride, Michael Burrows, Adam Auclair, Adam Pinch and Kyle Cordoza lead the Lancer Juniors (120 and under, age 13) to the championship against host New London 1:30 p.m. Sunday at New London High.

Waterford Youth Football's "Fab Five" and the rest of the Juniors share Patch Athlete(s) of the Week honors heading Sunday's Junior Super Bowl. It's a battle of 9-0 teams and a rematch of last year's Micro title game, a thrilling 16-12 Waterford win that featured a Lancer goal-line stand in the final minute to save it.

"Overall, the same nucleus has been together since starting flag football six years ago," Waterford Junior coach Tom Burrows said. "We've lost a few who have become too heavy and joined upper leagues and others who have dropped out, but many have remained. We have about nine who played for the Micro title last year."

The familiarity has served this group well in Little League baseball, where Waterford South has won a number of District 10 titles. The coaching staff also does not need nametags as Burrows, Dan McBride and Ed Pinch have navigated the recent successful ride since the beginning with others joining along the way.

"Continuity has been a plus," Burrows said. "We're able to pick up where we left off the previous year and have an understanding of what position each kid is suited for and the kids know our system. That changes over the years because kids get bigger and faster as they grow. But this is a good group of kids that likes playing together. There is no animosity or jealousy."

Burrows consistently ranks among the league leaders in touchdown passes. Pinch has shown as an all-around feature back-receiver with plenty of running help from Chase Speller, Kevin Johnson, Mike Rochetto, Rolando Rivera and McBride handling most of the inside rushes. Auclair and Walker Sutman are prime receiving targets, while Cordoza anchors interior lines.

"We're rarely the biggest team - we have most linemen weighing under 110 - but we're quick and disciplined," Burrows said. "New London, though, is very stacked and is going to be a handful."

But with championship experience on its side, Waterford figures to be a handful as well.