By the time a player gets too old to play Bennett’s Creek Pop Warner football, he might be ready to retire. After all, a running back, middle linebacker, or free safety Warrior can spend a maximum of 10 years on the BC gridirons – and still not be old enough to drive themselves to the game.

Rushing into the 2004-05 season, eight (yes, count ’em, eight!) teams of Warriors teem the field of John Yeates Middle School five evenings a week. Ranging from three squads of flag ball (ages 5-7) to Mighty Mites (8-9), Junior Pee-Wees (9-11), Pee-Wees (10-12), Junior Midget (11-13), all the way up to Midgets (12-15).

In his sixth year of wearing the red and yellow, Ty Alexander is one of the league’s old-timers. &uot;I keep coming back because it’s fun,&uot; he said. &uot;I know everybody on the team.&uot;

Last year, Ty’s Midget team went all the way to the title game, only to lose in five overtimes to the Norfolk States, missing out by a touchdown on a trip to Orlando for the world tournaments. This year, he hopes to help them get that one last score.

&uot;Our team’s looking good,&uot; said Alexander, whose team begins play Labor Day weekend. &uot;We’re giving out some solid hits, and everybody’s doing drills right. The people that weren’t so good when we started (in early August) are looking better.&uot;

Over on the MM field, Jake Cole crushes an unsuspecting ball carrier. Over the next few weeks, he hopes to do the same to opponents. &uot;I’m going to hit them harder!&uot; said the league rookie, a student at Mack Benn Elementary. &uot;I like to tackle people without pads in my neighborhood, but it’s more fun with pads, because you don’t get hurt that bad.&uot;

A Junior Midget safety, Brandon &uot;Prime Time&uot; Kelly is ready to hand out some hurting of his own – in more ways than one. &uot;They call me ‘Prime Time’ because I produce on the field, tackling people, intercepting passes and scoring touchdowns,&uot; he said. &uot;I’m looking forward to shutting the other teams down. You have to read the offense; if they’re going to run, you attack the ball, and if they’re passing, you back up on the receivers.&uot;

Though he can also do it all, Junior Pee-Wee running back/linebacker Chris Williams prefers to be on the defensive side of things. &uot;I’m good at tackling and running the ball,&uot; said the King’s Fork Middle School student, &uot;but it’s more fun to tackle people. I think I’ll do good, because I’m a really great player.&uot;

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com