By Jon Schuppe
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — The Harlem Jets’ shot at a national youth-football title ended in heartbreak with a one-point overtime loss to a team from Novato, Calif.
The dramatic 21-20 Thursday night finish at the American Youth Football tournament in Orlando, Fla., capped what had been an undefeated season for the 12-and-under junior midgets.
Down by six to the Novato Yellow Jackets in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, the Jets scored a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14. But the extra-point attempt, which would have sealed the title, was blocked, sending the game into overtime.
It ended with a disputed touchdown pass by the Yellow Jackets. Harlem coaches are still arguing whether the receiver was out of bounds, but they were forced to accept the referees’ call, and the 21-20 loss.
"It was a very close call, but ultimately football is a game of inches, and humans are involved," junior midgets coach Tyson Pratcher said. "In the end, the kid made a great catch."
By the end of the post-game dinner, the dark moods had lightened and the kids were joking with each other again, Pratcher said. The adults, not so much.
"The kids are always more resilient than the coaches," Pratcher joked.
The next day, the junior midgets and the 9-and-under mighty mites, who were eliminated early from their division’s tournament, flew home to New York. They were frustrated but looking forward to spring practices.
“The kids are already getting ready for next year,” mighty mites coach Stefan Romero said. "There’s excitement and a hunger."
The Harlem Jets, founded in 2006, struggled to come up with money to send the two teams to Orlando. After the mighty mites and junior midgets won their city-league divisions, they had about two weeks to make sure all the kids and coaches could cover the $500-a-head tab. They solicited donations on the street and online, and used money from the organization’s operating budget.
Despite the disappointing results, the Jets grew as an organization in Orlando, and now know they can play with America’s best, Romero said.
"It’s not the last time they’ll see the Jets down there," he said.
