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Sid Leonard’s resolve to play Pop Warner football this fall is paying huge dividends.
After his South Tahoe Pop Warner Midgets team disbanded before the season, the 13-year-old Leonard was permitted to join the Douglas Tigers’ squad.
Leonard didn’t join just any team, though. These Tigers have gone 37-0, including 33 shutouts, against Northern Nevada competition the past four years.
This season, the Tigers have been even tougher, shutting out all eight of their opponents on their way to qualifying for Pop Warner regional game this weekend in Santa Clara. Douglas will play the San Francisco Seahawks at 5 p.m. for a berth in the regional championship the following weekend.
“It was either go down to Douglas or not play at all,” said Leonard, who plays right tackle and nose guard for the team.
In fact, the first week with the successful program was a bit overwhelming for the first-year player.
“I didn’t talk for the first week I was down there,” he said.
Leonard and his former South Tahoe teammates went through preseason training in August, but the team couldn’t gather enough players to begin the season. Down to nine players, the league had no other choice but to dissolve the team.
“Our league and coaches suggested that (Sid) go down to Douglas. They wanted the kids to play football,” said Kristi Leonard, Sid’s mother. “With him being a first-year player, they were very supportive.”
A switch in leagues without a change in residence has cut into the family’s time at home. Leonard has been practicing three nights a week in Gardnerville.
“It’s tiring, quite overwhelming. Anything for our kid,” Kristi said.
The Tigers’ shutout streak should be tested in the regionals, but Leonard said preserving that statistic isn’t important.
“We just want to win, try as hard as we can and try to not let them score. It’s not a massive, big deal if they do,” he said.
If Douglas wins its next two games, it will advance to the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Douglas players, including Leonard, have been raising money for the possible trip. Leonard has raised $750 of the $2,600 that is necessary to travel with the team to Florida.
If anyone wishes to contribute to Leonard’s cause, please contact the family at (530) 330-2284.
After his South Tahoe Pop Warner Midgets team disbanded before the season, the 13-year-old Leonard was permitted to join the Douglas Tigers’ squad.
Leonard didn’t join just any team, though. These Tigers have gone 37-0, including 33 shutouts, against Northern Nevada competition the past four years.
This season, the Tigers have been even tougher, shutting out all eight of their opponents on their way to qualifying for Pop Warner regional game this weekend in Santa Clara. Douglas will play the San Francisco Seahawks at 5 p.m. for a berth in the regional championship the following weekend.
“It was either go down to Douglas or not play at all,” said Leonard, who plays right tackle and nose guard for the team.
In fact, the first week with the successful program was a bit overwhelming for the first-year player.
“I didn’t talk for the first week I was down there,” he said.
Leonard and his former South Tahoe teammates went through preseason training in August, but the team couldn’t gather enough players to begin the season. Down to nine players, the league had no other choice but to dissolve the team.
“Our league and coaches suggested that (Sid) go down to Douglas. They wanted the kids to play football,” said Kristi Leonard, Sid’s mother. “With him being a first-year player, they were very supportive.”
A switch in leagues without a change in residence has cut into the family’s time at home. Leonard has been practicing three nights a week in Gardnerville.
“It’s tiring, quite overwhelming. Anything for our kid,” Kristi said.
The Tigers’ shutout streak should be tested in the regionals, but Leonard said preserving that statistic isn’t important.
“We just want to win, try as hard as we can and try to not let them score. It’s not a massive, big deal if they do,” he said.
If Douglas wins its next two games, it will advance to the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Douglas players, including Leonard, have been raising money for the possible trip. Leonard has raised $750 of the $2,600 that is necessary to travel with the team to Florida.
If anyone wishes to contribute to Leonard’s cause, please contact the family at (530) 330-2284.
