Dream season for Mighty Mite Sun Devils

The journey began with their inaugural practice at Twin Lakes Park in the thick of Florida heat and humidity on Aug. 1.

The sweet ride did not end until the Sarasota Sun Devils Pop Warner Mighty Mite football team (ages 8-10) reached the championship game of the Mid-America Southeast Championship tournament in Orlando over the Thanksgiving Holiday.

“It was just one of those great years,” said Sun Devils head coach Tim Beach, who finished his 11th season of coaching youth football. “It was truly a special season.”

The ballclub finished the regular season with a 7-1 record, with the lone blemish being a hard-fought 12-6 loss to the rival Fort Myers Firecats. But the Sun Devils made up for that loss by coming back to defeat the Firecats, 22-12, in the Peace River Conference Championship in Naples.

After advancing to the regional playoffs, the Sun Devils rolled past the Tampa West Chase Colts in Cape Coral, before coming up short against the Forest View Outlaws in Orlando.

Beach and his veteran coaching staff was particularly proud of the fact that the Sun Devils had such success considering tackle football was brand new to 10 players on the team.

“I’m happy for the fact that we were able to find some kids who can become good football players,” Beach said. “We really had some good football players by the time we got to the playoffs.

“Our guys have some good instincts for the game. They were aggressive in their approach and were able to pick things up quickly.”

The focus on teamwork was prominent for Beach and his staff, including assistant coaches Josh Smithers, Corey Buttle, Al Billiteri, Harry Baker, Mike Amerine and trainer George Parker.

“I think the major thing they learned was teamwork,” Beach said. “They became a cohesive group with a common goal in mind. Sometimes, we would face better athletes, but the kids would always work together. When you have that attitude you can do a lot of good things.”

The 2020 Sarasota Sun Devil roster included Mason Amerine, Mitchell Baker, Walker Beach, Jaxson Brester, Thomas Buckley III, Ryan Buttle, Abel Cohen, Nathan Crowe, Tyce Durfee, Hamza Haider and Beckett Hill.

Also on board were Tyler Jekonski, Cole Kaufman, Brody Lehman, Jameson Loomis, Alessio Marogi, Jaden Milano, Landen Parker, Owen Robbins, Quinn Scully, Trey Smithers and Rylan Thomas.