TYFL seniors win title

By Michael Butler

Tallassee Youth Football League senior team head coach Mark Bell is going out a winner. The TYFL seniors beat Reeltown in the East Alabama Youth Football League title game 19-6 in Alex City. This will be Bell's final season. There have been many seasons and many wins.

"It's 17 or 18 years," Bell said. "We started counting back from our oldest kid."

Bell has mentored his three sons through youth football. His youngest, Land, was a member of this team that has now claimed three titles during their TYFL span with middle school ball up next.

"They're the winningest group that's ever come through TYFL," Bell noted. "That's a pretty high benchmark."

League Champions Photo by Michelle Clayton

Of the four age groups, the Alabama Cardinals won the freshmen division, Eclectic the sophomore, Reeltown the junior and Tallassee claimed the championship consisting of 11- and 12-year-old players.

"It goes to show the parity of the competition," said Bell. "At one point, we had over 2,000 people in the stands.

"The cheer groups have about 20. On the football teams you have 30. Over the past few years, we've had over 200 kids participate in the Tallassee Youth Football League. That's impressive for a community the size of ours."

What's next for Bell now that he plans on retiring from the sidelines?

"I'm going to become the ultimate fan. I'm going to sit up there and wear some of the cool garb, paint my face and have shakers. It's going to be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to the next few years."

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