Demons head south with eyes on a national championship

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December 4, 2008

Sideline Pass

Football players in the state of Florida know a thing or two about playing for a national title during the holiday season.

This week, 27 Derry youngsters will get the chance of a lifetime when they travel to the Sunshine State to vie for the American Youth Football Pee Wee National Championship.

"This is incredible for the kids, the coaches, the parents," said Demons head coach Steve Lannan, who led his team to a 7-1 regular season record, followed by two tournament victories to win the state championship. That was followed by a gut-wrenching 12-6 double-overtime win over Westford/Littleton (Mass.) in the regional final two weeks ago.

It's the first time a Derry team has been to the nationals since 1998.

"We knew before the season started that if there was a year they could win it, this would be it," said Lannan. "We had the right group of kids — plenty of speed, plenty of power."

The Demon Pewees are made up mostly of 11-and 12-year-olds, though there is a 9-year-old and a 10-year-old on the roster.

The one blemish on Derry's record was a mid-season loss to Hudson. That setback seemed to wake the Demons from complacency and brought about a defensive resurgence. Suddenly, Derry was giving up points about as often as Vince Wilfork passes on desserts. In the state tournament, the stingy Demons posted back-to-back shutouts.

The national tournament appearance is the result of several years of effort from this particular group of players and coaches.

"Most of these kids have played together three or four years. Two years ago we went to the regional final (as junior pee wees)," said Lannan. "As coaches, we've been together four years, on and off. Some of the coaches have been coaching six or seven years."

Nearly all of the coaching staff, which includes, Mike Mosely, Derrick Chandler, Chuck LeMehieu, Ed Beradi and Court Burton, have children on the team.

Making the Demons success this season all the more remarkable is the rash of severe injuries they've endured. There have been stays on the injured list for puncture wounds, severe lacerations, broken arms and even pneumonia.

"The regional title game the first time since the opening game that we had all 27 players," said Lannan.

The Demons will arrive in Kissimee, Fla., on Saturday, Dec. 6 and will return Dec. 12. They open play in the national tournament on Dec. 7 and are guaranteed at least one more game on Dec. 9. To win the national title will take three or four wins in seven days, depending on how many teams participate.

Lannan can offer his team a unique perspective on the national tournament experience. He and LeMehieu were teammates on the Derry team (coached by program founder Mike Moran) that participated in the Bantam Division National Tournament in 1980.

"We played South Carolina and lost 12-8, I still remember that game because we led 8-6 almost the whole way,"

Planning a trip to a national tournament on short notice takes tremendous coordination of efforts, cooperation and fund-raising. Lannan is quick to credit his team of parents for their hard work and the generosity of the business community for stepping up over the last two weeks.

"We've been tagging all over the place and having raffles and calling businesses," he said. "I can only speak for myself but every business I've talked to has helped in some way,"

Those fund-raising efforts are continuing. To donate, log onto www.derrydemons.com.

And for continuing coverage of the Derry Demons in Florida at the AYF Pee Wee National Championship Tournament, log onto www.derrynews.com for the latest scores and highlights.

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Bill Gilman is the editor of the Derry News. He can be reached at editor@derrynews.com or by calling 421-3880.