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2007 12-14 NFL NATIONAL

2007 PANTHERS FALL JUST SHORT OF THE 3-PEAT

On the way back from the 2006 NFL Nationals, after winning the 9-11 title for the second time in a row, Coach Jimmy told Coach Eddie that the team's goal for 2007 should be to make it back to NFL Nationals in Florida. Since the Panthers roster will be very young in 2007, Eddie agreed that would be the most realistic approach to the upcoming year. However, as the training continued, as the boys kept performing well in the older division of tournaments, and as some growth spurts took place, the 2007 Panthers looked primed to make a run for the 3-peat.

This year's NFL National was reminiscent of the 2005 event. The boys started out flat, ending pool play with a 1-2 record. In the first round of the 2005 playoffs, the boys caught fire and went on to win their first National Title. After gong 1-2 in pool play this year, the Panthers were matched up in the first round of the playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals Regional Winner represented by the Wasup League of Las Vegas. The Wasup teams are always strong teams. The Panthers knew they had to play flawlessly to beat their opponent. Trailing 13-7 with under three minutes to play, the young Panthers scored a TD to knot the score. A missed opportunity at the extra point sent the game into overtime. In the overtime session, the boys from New York marched all the way to their opponent's 3-yard line. With hopes of repeating their streak of 2005, the Panthers defense took the field. A penalty and a blown coverage later the Nevada boys were celebrating their victory over the Panthers. The Wasup League boys played a great game to beat the Panthers.

All the games were close this year. In the first game the Panthers lost to MoSteel by a score of 6-0. In the second game, the Oakland Raiders Regional Winner lost to the boys from New York by a score of 7-0. The third and final game of pool play would be against the same Cardinals that beat the Panthers in the playoffs. In that game, the Cardinals won 6-0.

The Arizona Cardinals went on to win it all after beating the Panthers in the playoffs. "The game against the Cardinals was the championship game. I knew that if won that game we would go on to do what the Cardinals did...beat a weaker 49ers team and beat MoSteel with a tired rusher and depleted of their best receiver due to disqualification", says Coach Eddie with a heavy sigh.

For the first time, the Panthers had two teams at the National Event. The 9-11 Panthers started the day with two victories. However, in their last pool game of the day and in the first round of the playoffs, the Little Panthers faced some tough competition. They ended up on the short end of each battle.

The 12-14 Panthers team must say goodbye to Tommy Botsaris and Chris Dorgler as they are too old to play next year. However, they are returning a very good nucleus to make a run for the title in 2008. The Little Panthers are also returning a good nucleus to make a run of their own.