Christopher McFarland, has been coaching for three years in the Macedonia area. Recently he coached the Nordonia Green Varsity team of Ohio Gridiron Youth Football Association, who won their championship game on November 5, 2022, with twenty-one football players on the roster. When asked what he likes best about coaching, he says, “the relationships with the kids, the life lessons football teaches and I do love defense, and is blessed to have been part of it”.
The seven-game season started with practices in July, games in August and ended with up to three championship games in November. Teams in the league include the following: Hudson Silver, Highland Green, Copley Blue, Kent, North Royalton Purple, Highland Black, Hudson Blue, Aurora, Norwayne, Wadsworth Red, Stow Maroon, Nordonia White, Revere Blue, Nordonia Green, Parma, Wadsworth White, Medina Green, Twinsburg, Cuyahoga Falls and Medina Black
There were Two very notable moments according to Coach McFarland, “we lost 2 games early in the season 6-0 and 8-6. I believe that created a desire from our team to be on the other end of close games” and “Down 12-8 with 43 seconds left in our first playoff game, we drove from our own 35 to our opponent Wadsworth Red’s 12-yard line with .6 Seconds left. On the last play of the game, Our QB ran in the go ahead TD with the help of our offensive line driving him into the end zone.”
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RECAP:
The halftime score was Norwayne 8 – Nordonia Green 6. Down 14-6 with 5 and half minutes left in the 4th quarter. Nordonia Green scored twice to make the game 20-14. The first Touchdown on 4th and goal from the 1-yard line, Nordonia Green ran a QB sneak and with the help of the line and RB’s, the QB was able to cross the goal line. The go ahead score was a 65 yard pass from the QB to the RB on 4th and 10. The defense stopped Norwayne’s offense on four consecutive plays to seal the game.
“This group was so special to our coaching staff because of how much they cared for one another. They started off as individuals, developed into a team, and then took one step further and became family”, coach said.
Special Thank You to: Coach O’Connell, Esterall and Griswold were so great to work with. “The success we had on and off the field, would not have happened without each and every one of them. We split into 2 teams this year because we had a total of 44 kids sign up but we always viewed ourselves as 1 Nordonia Team”, McFarland said. Coach Poulin, Charleton, Roderick, Flemming and McConaughey who coached the White squad all had significant impacts on the boys on both teams” as well.
“I have to point out we had the best fans, ‘Gang Green’, in the league, their energy, support and enthusiasm was felt by the players each and every game”-McFarland.
Photos by Julie Anquillare
