JW Cheechov, number 72; Tyler Bowers, number 27; Jordan Cole, number 30; and Cayden Cox, number 47 are the Creswell sixth graders that participated in last weekend’s First Annual All-State Football Games at Sheldon High School. PHOTO PROVIDED
Hundreds of future football stars – including four sixth graders from Creswell – took to Sheldon High School in Eugene over the weekend to compete in the First Annual All-State Football Games. The Creswell kids were represented on the White Team, and took home at 28-8 victory against the opposing Red Team on Saturday.
Seventy-five schools are were represented at the game, including Creswell Middle School, where sixth graders Cayden Cox, JW Cheechov, Tyler Bowers and Jordan Cole all took to the field to compete with the best young football players in the state.
Cheechov, an offensive lineman, is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs in at 180 pounds. Bowers, a safety, is 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighs in at 115 pounds. He managed to score two touchdowns at last weekend’s game.
Cox, a defensive end, is 5 feet 4 inches tall and is 150 pounds, and had some great tackles throughout the game.
Cole, an offensive lineman, is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds. He and Cheechov helped the team march into the endzone. These kids played with talent from Cottage Grove Middle School, Cascade Junior High School, Baker Middle School and with others from across the state.
All together, there were 244 children competing at the event, which was created to help raise awareness of the some-450,000 kids placed in foster care nationally and locally.
”In 2017 there were 11,645 Oregon children that spent at least one day in foster care. Some of these kids are sleeping in motels and office buildings because not enough adults are getting involved,” said Matt Williams, event organizer. ”With the great partners we have we truly think we will get more people involved.”
You can see how the game unfolds by watching the full video webcast at https://bit.ly/2tEc1kx or can find more information about this event by visiting www.oregonallstategame.com.
Off the field, players spent June 27 thru June 30 on the University of Oregon campus, where players and coaches enjoyed meals together, practiced on campus and participated in nightly activities. Players and coaches saw a magic show from former ”America’s Got Talent” television contestant Hart Keene, attended a Eugene Emeralds Baseball game and listened to guest speakers.
The game was free for spectators to attend, though event organizers asked attendees to bring a backpack in lieu of charging at the gate, as Oregon All-State games donated several hundred backpacks for Oregon foster kids. These backpacks were positioned at opposite ends of the field out of play.
”We hope the fans watching the games (saw) the backpacks and (thought) of the kids that don’t have these type of opportunities” Williams said.
Oregon DHS, Oregon Foster Youth Connection and Every Child representatives welcomed individuals as they came through the gates, helping spread awareness to the foster situation and asking people to get involved in Oregon.
