IYAA makes history on their way to the playoffs

Image: A-Team takes the field with confidence and beats Palmer 23-7 — The IYAA A-Team won their wildcard game against Palmer earning them a matchup against 1st seed Blooming Grove in the conference championship game later in the day. IYAA’s B & C-Teams won their conference championship games and will compete for Superbowl trophies next Saturday in Hubbard.

A-Team takes the field with confidence and beats Palmer 23-7 — The IYAA A-Team won their wildcard game against Palmer earning them a matchup against 1st seed Blooming Grove in the conference championship game later in the day. IYAA’s B & C-Teams won their conference championship games and will compete for Superbowl trophies next Saturday in Hubbard. (Barry Byers)

Image: Norwood catches — Ken Norwood, Jr. hauls in a pass against Palmer during A-Team’s 23-7 win.

Norwood catches — Ken Norwood, Jr. hauls in a pass against Palmer during A-Team’s 23-7 win. (Barry Byers)

Image: Over Ken’s head — The pass goes over Ken Norwood, Jr.’s head but was dropped by the Palmer defender.

Over Ken’s head — The pass goes over Ken Norwood, Jr.’s head but was dropped by the Palmer defender. (Barry Byers)

Image: Maynard gains ground — Quarterback Austin Maynard(82) follows battering ram, Isaac Salcido(80), through the middle of the Palmer defense.

Maynard gains ground — Quarterback Austin Maynard(82) follows battering ram, Isaac Salcido(80), through the middle of the Palmer defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Warren rumbles — Frost product, Austin Warren(81), earns the tough yards from his fullback position.

Warren rumbles — Frost product, Austin Warren(81), earns the tough yards from his fullback position. (Barry Byers)

Image: Safety! — Palmer’s quarterback falls on the fumble as Italy’s A-Team defense tackles him for a safety to take an 8-7 lead over the Bulldogs.

Safety! — Palmer’s quarterback falls on the fumble as Italy’s A-Team defense tackles him for a safety to take an 8-7 lead over the Bulldogs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Norwood catches T.D. — Ken Norwood, Jr.(25) smoothly catches a pass from Austin Maynard for the 2-point conversion to give Italy a 16-7 advantage in the Wildcard game.

Norwood catches T.D. — Ken Norwood, Jr.(25) smoothly catches a pass from Austin Maynard for the 2-point conversion to give Italy a 16-7 advantage in the Wildcard game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cheerleaders huddle — Cheerleader coach Darla Wood huddles with the young ladies to decide the next cheer.

Cheerleaders huddle — Cheerleader coach Darla Wood huddles with the young ladies to decide the next cheer. (Barry Byers)

Image: Going for the strip — Ryan Connor(18) tries to strip the ball away from the Bulldogs.

Going for the strip — Ryan Connor(18) tries to strip the ball away from the Bulldogs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Breaking away — Chasston Wilson(21) breaks into the clear against the Palmer Bulldogs.

Breaking away — Chasston Wilson(21) breaks into the clear against the Palmer Bulldogs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Isaac is hard to handle — This Palmer tackler will need both arms and help from about two of his teammates to bring down Isaac Salcido.

Isaac is hard to handle — This Palmer tackler will need both arms and help from about two of his teammates to bring down Isaac Salcido. (Barry Byers)

Image: Let’s try this play… — Coach Glen McClendon strategizes with Joseph Celis(30) and Austin Maynard(82) during their win over Palmer in the wildcard game.

Let’s try this play… — Coach Glen McClendon strategizes with Joseph Celis(30) and Austin Maynard(82) during their win over Palmer in the wildcard game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Pointing to the Playoffs — Cameron Carter(22) points in the direction of the playoffs where his A-Team teammates were headed after their win over Palmer.

Pointing to the Playoffs — Cameron Carter(22) points in the direction of the playoffs where his A-Team teammates were headed after their win over Palmer. (Barry Byers)

Image: You guys did it! — A-Team defeated Palmer 23-7 and claimed the 4th seed in the playoff standings. The victory put them into the conference championship game against the Blooming Grove Lions to be played later in the day at 6:00 p.m.

You guys did it! — A-Team defeated Palmer 23-7 and claimed the 4th seed in the playoff standings. The victory put them into the conference championship game against the Blooming Grove Lions to be played later in the day at 6:00 p.m. (Barry Byers)

Image: Michael and Levi — 2nd Graders Michael Gonzalez(30) and Levi Stark(79) practice firing off the ball before their Conference Championship matchup against Hubbard.

Michael and Levi — 2nd Graders Michael Gonzalez(30) and Levi Stark(79) practice firing off the ball before their Conference Championship matchup against Hubbard. (Barry Byers)

Image: The coin toss is… — Italy’s undefeated C-Team won the coin toss and eventually the conference championship, 21-0 over the Hubbard Jaguars. C-Team advances to the Superbowl in Hubbard and will play undefeated Palmer.

The coin toss is… — Italy’s undefeated C-Team won the coin toss and eventually the conference championship, 21-0 over the Hubbard Jaguars. C-Team advances to the Superbowl in Hubbard and will play undefeated Palmer. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ja’Sean and Levi — C-Team’s Ja’Sean Brooks and Levi Stark anchor Italy’s defensive line that has yet to be scored on as they advance to the Superbowl with a 7-0 record.

Ja’Sean and Levi — C-Team’s Ja’Sean Brooks and Levi Stark anchor Italy’s defensive line that has yet to be scored on as they advance to the Superbowl with a 7-0 record. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sideline view — The IYAA B-Team awaits the coin toss for their conference championship game against the Blooming Grove Lions.

Sideline view — The IYAA B-Team awaits the coin toss for their conference championship game against the Blooming Grove Lions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Hannah Haight cheers — When Hannah cheers she likes to, “Bring it on!”

Hannah Haight cheers — When Hannah cheers she likes to, “Bring it on!” (Barry Byers)

Image: Smith scores — Milford product, Taron Smith(21), helps his IYAA B-Team win the conference championship game over Blooming Grove.

Smith scores — Milford product, Taron Smith(21), helps his IYAA B-Team win the conference championship game over Blooming Grove. (Barry Byers)

Image: Norwood is gone — Kendrick Norwood(1) blazes a path to the endzone for 6-points after catching a Tylan Wallace pass.

Norwood is gone — Kendrick Norwood(1) blazes a path to the endzone for 6-points after catching a Tylan Wallace pass. (Barry Byers)

Image: Matao Jacinto — Matao brought his “A” game to the B-teams matchup against Blooming Grove for the conference championship in Rice.

Matao Jacinto — Matao brought his “A” game to the B-teams matchup against Blooming Grove for the conference championship in Rice. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lillie and Amber — Lillie Perry and Amber Hooker kept their smiles all day and night as they cheered on the IYAA football teams.

Lillie and Amber — Lillie Perry and Amber Hooker kept their smiles all day and night as they cheered on the IYAA football teams. (Barry Byers)

Image: Debra and Lillie — Blooming Grove busted the A-Team’s bubble but not before the A-Team helped make history as all three IYAA football teams (A, B & C-Teams) qualified for the playoffs together for the first time.

Debra and Lillie — Blooming Grove busted the A-Team’s bubble but not before the A-Team helped make history as all three IYAA football teams (A, B & C-Teams) qualified for the playoffs together for the first time. (Barry Byers)

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