News and Announcements

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Heads Up Football

Posted by Dave Rea at Jul 7, 2015 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
Buckeye Youth Football Association renewed their partnership with USA Football and the NFL in their 'Heads Up' Program begining with the 2015 Season. The Heads Up program is four pronged in its delivery of these major items Education & Certification, Concussion Awareness, Equipment Fitting and Heads Up Tackling. You can go on the USA Football site and get familiar with the 'Heads Up' program by clicking on the link.

We require that all of our Football & Cheer Coaches have Concussion Awarness training as is now mandated by the State of Ohio. This certification is good for 3 years and we must provide proof of certification to Lake Erie Youth Football League prior to the season. All of our Football Coaches must become members of USA Football and complete the basic training course for Flag or Tackle Football and continue to renew that membership and update the Flag or Tackle certificate as required by USA Football each year they coach for BYFA. Beginning with the 2015 Season USA Football will be giving organizations a $500.00 Cash Grant to any organization that has 100% of their coaches as members and certified. All Coaches must be background checked a practice we have been doing since the 2010 season through the National Center of Safety Initiatives who are another partner of USA Football. Background checks are also mandatory for our Team Moms. We also are making sure that the coaches receive instruction on how to properly fit helmets and shoulder pads. You can click on the link for a video of helmet fitting, shoulder pad fitting and how helmets are reconditioned at Riddell here.

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Former Jets Coach Mark Carrow Passes

Posted by Dave Rea at May 14, 2015 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

We are sad to report that our former Jets Coach, Supporter and father Mark Carrow passed away on Tuesday at home in Litchfied. Mark coached for us from 2002 through the 2005 Season spending one year with the JV and 3 seasons with the Varsity including the 2003 Championship Season. Mark is pictured above second from the left with Coaches Scott Watkins, Steve Watkins and Mark Crooks at Edwards Field in November of 2003 after the Jets won their first Championship. He leaves his t...wo sons Cody and Tyler who each played for the Jets for 3 seasons and also both played for the Bucks in high school . His wife and the boys' mother Joyce passed away in January of 2011. Cody and Tyler are both fine young men and have lost both of their parents in the space of 4 years. We will be looking into a way that we can help them in some way. Below is Mark's Obituary, there will be visiting hours on Saturday at Waite and Son in Brunswick. His obituary appears below.

Mark J. Carrow, 51 of Litchfield, Ohio passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday, May 12. He was born on March 29, 1964 in Middleburg Heights, OH to the late Robert and Sandra (nee Slack) Carrow. He worked for over 30 years at Arcelor Mittal Steel but will be remembered most for his love of horseback riding, camping, fishing, hunting, and four wheeling. Mark was a loving and devoted husband, father, son and brother and will be missed by all those who knew and loved him. He leaves behind his loving sons Cody and Tyler; his sister-in-law Jane (John) Martz; his nieces Jillian and Christine Zebris; and many extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his wife Joyce. Family will receive friends on Saturday, May 16, from 2-4 6-7:30 PM at Waite and Son Funeral Home, 3300 Center Rd., Brunswick, OH 44212. A service for Mark will follow at 7:30 PM at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.waitefuneralhome.com

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2014 Jaguars Season

Posted by Dave Rea at Mar 29, 2015 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
The 2013 season saw the Varsity Jaguars make the playoffs for the thirteenth time in their 18 seasons of play, everyone made the playoffs last season. They weren't able to move onto the Championship game as they lost their playoff game by a score of 31-0 to the eventual champion Brunswick Jets. They finished the season at 1-6 under the tutelage of 2nd Year Head Coach Mike Arena and Assistants Adam Read, Jon Stahl and Dennis Galdun.

The JV Squad made it to the playoffs for the 5th time and finished Runner Up in the Division to their nemisis the Brunswick Jets. They finished 8-2 on the season. The Jags JV were coached by Head Coach Bob Chegan and Assistant Coaches Dave Chaney and Jay Mamrak.

The Jags Pee Wee Squad got their 6th Season in the books and had another fine season under  Head Coach Paul Schnepp and Assistant Coaches Shane Metter, Eric Berthold and Tom Grabowski.

The Jags Flag Squad which is made up of 5 and 6 year olds, got their introduction to the football this year under Head Coach Roy Salazar and Assistant Coaches Joe Finding and Jared Swank. 

Head Coach Cathy Maslanka and Assistant Renee Manross coached the Varsity Jags Cheerleaders. There was no JV Squad, so the Pee Wee Cheerleaders were coached by Head Coach Tracey Johnson and Assistant Donielle Finding. The Flag squad was coached by 2nd year coaches Head Coach Erica Melilo and Assistant Heather Stout.

The Jags had support and fund raising from their Team Moms who were led by Head Team Mom Janet Adamsky, Dawn Chegan (Varsity) and Melissa Berthold (Pee Wee)Ashley Thacker (Flag).

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2014 Jets Season

Posted by Dave Rea at Mar 29, 2015 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
The 2014 Season was the last year of the name Jets. They existed for 15 years and had a great run. In 2015 they will be known as the Bucks Orange.

The Jets Varsity posted a subpar 4-5 record, but played with a lot of heart all season as they overcame injuries and small numbers. They made their 10th playoff appearance and 6th in a row. This was the 13th season at the helm for Head Coach Steve Watkins. He had Assistants Mark Crooks and Terry Shrader helping to get the squad ready each week. 

The JV Squad coming off one of their worst seasons in 2013 at 1-8 rebounded to go 8-2 and win their first ever JV Championship in November. They finished their 15th and last season in style. The squad was coached by Head Coach Bob Miller and Assistant Coaches Chris May, Greg Aungst and Tony Vannello.

The Pee Wee Squad was again under the direction of Head Coach Scott Marcum and his Assistant Coaches Morgan Dolata and Mike Augustin. This division was 7 years old and did a lot to help prepare the youngest players to get up to speed for the Varsity and JV Divisions. They do keep score here but there is no Championship Game.

The Jets Flag Squad is made up of 5 and 6 year olds. They get an introduction to football and hopefully have a lot of fun before moving up the ladder in youth football. The Jets Flag players were under the direction of Head Coach Steve VanDette and Assistant Coaches Jay Schrock and Matt Wilhelm. 

The Jets fielded 3 Cheer Squads this season as there was no Flag Squad. The Jets Varsity Cheer Squad was under the tutelage of Head Coach Kim Sexton and Assistant Julie Bell. The Jets JV Squad was coached by Head Coach Ann Vogt and Assistant Coaches Jen Widenmeyer and Jasmine Otterbacher. The Pee Wee cheerleaders again had Head Coach Nicole McGivern.

The Jets had great support and fund raising from their Team Moms. They were led by Head Team Mom Jess Marcum who did the Pee Wee Squad. The other moms were Julie Shrader with the Varsity squad, Nicole McGivern from the JV Squad and Megan Augustine who was the Flag Team Mom.

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BYFA Joins The Lake Erie Youth Football League

Posted by Dave Rea at Feb 18, 2015 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )
When the 2014 Season ended the Directors of Buckeye Youth Football discussed looking for a different league to join due to the fact that our Varsity age group had been losing players due to the fact that the kids in our 12 and 13 year old age groups were moving to junior high with the success of that program in conjunction with the new head coach at the high school Mark Pinzone. We looked at 3 leagues close to us and saw that the Lake Erie Youth Football League seemed to be the best fit with their oldest age group being 10 and 11 year olds and not containing any junior high kids.

After some preliminary discussions with their league president, the Board decided that we would attend their January meeting and see if they would entertain us joining. As it turned out they made us the offer and after putting out information on the league and having a parent meeting the Directors voted to accept the offer and become members. We ended our 19 year association with Blue Devils Youth Football and will begin play in LEYFL this fall. We feel that after we have some growing pains this season and possibly in 2016 it will be the best thing for our kids.

There are now 16 teams in the league, which was formed in 2009, and of those teams 9 of them are members of the Patriot Athletic Conference with Buckeye at the high school level. That should give us a chance to develop some rivalries at this level that the kids will carry to junior high and high school.

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