By: Shelia Mader

The 8 to 10-year-old Titans put together a season that will be talked about long after the grass has grown back over the cleat marks. This group was special. Talented, tough, and coached the right way, they rolled through the season with a perfect 6-0 record and capped it with a championship that felt inevitable long before the final whistle.

Numbers only tell part of the story, but these are hard to ignore. Six games. Six wins. Just 12 points allowed all season. Four shutouts. An offense that piled up 216 points and never took its foot off the gas. From the opening kickoff in November to the title game in December, the Titans set the tone every single week.

The season opened November 12 with a statement win, a 35-0 shutout of the Little Chiefs. Abram Varieur wasted no time announcing his presence, throwing three touchdown passes and adding a pick-six on defense. Kyler Dismuke hauled in a touchdown through the air and punched one in on the ground, then added an interception on defense for good measure. Mason Ragans and Jacoby Locke each caught touchdown passes, while Colson Pyke chipped in with an interception. It was clear early that this team had depth, balance, and swagger.

Game two came a week later on November 19, and the result was much the same. A 31-0 blanking of the Outlaws. Abram Varieur put together a monster night with two rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns, three interceptions, and a pile of tackles. Amelia Varieur caught two passes and added a point-after reception. The Locke brothers made their mark with Jayce and Jaycion both catching touchdown passes. Jacoby Locke turned an interception into a pick-six. Mason Ragans, Jakob Johnson, Alisa Branch, and Jayce Locke were everywhere on defense, flying to the ball and setting the tone.

The Titans stayed locked in on November 25 with a 27-0 win over the Warriors. Mason Ragans caught two touchdown passes and delivered several big defensive stops. Kyler Dismuke found the end zone twice, once on offense and once on a pick-six. Maverick Lanier added a successful point-after reception. Abram Varieur threw two more touchdown passes and snagged another interception. Jaycion Locke picked off a pass, while Jayce Locke and Alisa Branch made multiple points-saving defensive plays that kept the shutout intact.

December started the same way November ended. With dominance. The Titans rolled past the Little Chiefs 50-0 in a game that showcased just how deep this roster really was. Kyler Dismuke turned in an NFL-style stat line with a receiving touchdown, a passing touchdown, and two interceptions on defense, one of them returned for six. Jaycion Locke added a pick-six and a touchdown reception. Abram Varieur threw three touchdown passes and scored another on the ground. Creed Varieur, moving up from the 5 to 7-year-old league, showed he belonged with a touchdown catch and a successful point-after reception. Alisa Branch scored on the ground, Colson Pyke added a point-after, and Mason Ragans, Jakob Johnson, Maverick Lanier, and Kieran Purdue all ripped off long runs. A tip of the cap to Makaylah Faulk of the Little Chiefs for her outstanding defensive effort in a tough matchup.

On December 9, the Titans finally gave up points for the first time all season, but even that couldn’t slow them down in a 33-6 win over the Outlaws. Abram Varieur carried the offense with four rushing touchdowns, a passing touchdown, and an interception. Kyler Dismuke added a receiving touchdown and two rushing scores. Jaycion Locke hauled in a point-after touchdown reception. Colson Pyke, Jayce Locke, and Alisa Branch were difference-makers on defense with several key stops. Colton Johnson scored on a long run for the Outlaws, one of the few times anyone found daylight against this Titans defense.

Everything led to December 16. One game. One win away from perfection. One chance to finish the job. The Titans didn’t blink, rolling past the Warriors 40-6 to claim the championship and a blemish-free season. Kyler Dismuke scored three times with a touchdown reception and two rushing touchdowns. Abram Varieur added two rushing scores and threw three touchdown passes. Jaycion Locke caught a touchdown and a two-point conversion, while Amelia Varieur added a two-point conversion of her own.

It’s often said that coaches are a dime a dozen, but good coaches are rare. That holds true at every level of the game. Having covered more games than most folks care to count, I’ve seen the best and the worst of it. A good coach gives credit where it’s earned, holds kids accountable, and teaches respect for the game and the opponent.

One coach who does exactly that is Aaron Varieur. He celebrates his players, owns the rough moments, and goes out of his way to recognize great plays by the opposing team. That says everything you need to know.

Congratulations to the Titans on a championship season that was as impressive as it was fun to watch. Perfect seasons are rare. This one was earned.