The Clinton Little Devils celebrated the 2023 season in their awards banquet on Saturday, December 16, 2023.
In this article, we are recognizing the players, cheerleaders, team moms and coaches who attended the banquet. We had several members who could not attend due to the flu and other sicknesses that has been spreading in this area.
Our cheerleaders were celebrated for cheering at the football games as well as the competition team who went to Charleston on December 2, 2023 and won!
Back Row: Team moms Alice Shifferly, Joy Laird, DeAnna Jeter, Head Coach – Bayley Canupp, Assistant Coach Tay’Nyah Jeter, Malia Calhoun, Zanyla Smith, Raylyn Castleberry, Ariyel Miller, Jaylynn Smith, Samyia Watts, Middle Row: Alana Bain, Bristol Motte, Peyton Japart, Kai’Lyianna Miller, Ari Jeter, Olivia Robinson, Skhye Miller, Jaziyah Simpson, Tania Davis, Alexa Davenport, Courtney Laird, Ava Shockley, Front Row: Mary Alice Hunt, E’Mari Coleman, Morgan Davis, Moriah Wicker, Paisley Szymanski
The 6U football team: Back row: Team Mom – Shequita Moore; Head Coach – BJ Coleman; Assistant Coach – Hunter Prince, Players: Tristen Richey, Kaden Duncan, Tyquevius Parks, Braylen Coleman, Ki’Varion Toland, Front: Luke Harrison and Korbyn Leake. These young boys played hard the entire season and made it to the first round of the playoffs.
The 8U football team: Back row: Assistant Coach Zachery Tobias; Head Coach Tyron Davis; Assistant Coach AJ Darby and Assistant Coach Chris Davis. Players in middle row: Kaiden Evans, Zy’Maja Moultrie (youth assistant coach), Hilton Uddyback, Knyzear Cromer, James Hill, Front row: Quincy Stewart, Amaziah Simpson, Alijah Darby and Jaiden (Cash) Choice. A very tough group of 11 players total, they carried the entire season and also made it to the first round of playoffs. Team Mom not pictured with the team is Brittany Davis…she set up the banquet with decorations. Those balloons are her specialty.
The 10U team: Back Row: Team Mom – Lashunda Vance; Head Coach – Chauncey Payne; Assistant Coach – AJ Darby Players: TyMarrion Farrow, Cameron Wicker, ZyMarion Simpson, Kingsley Cromer, Daylen Dowdy, Isaiah Cameron, Amari Darby. They played hard and fought in each game to the end.
The `12U team: Back Row: Team Mom – Holly Merchant; Player Messiah Hudgens; Team Dad – Holand Merchant; Head Coach – Travis Peake; Middle Row: Mitchell Cameron, Jacori Richardson; Front Row: Corey Riden, Leland Szymanski. Hats off to Coach Peake for carrying the team the entire season. There was help occasionally from a few guys pitching in, but for the most part, Travis worked with these players alone.
We were blessed to have a Clinton native come home to present the Ricky Vance Outstanding Achievement Awards to a player on each team. Ricky was the QB for the 1985 CHS team who won the state championship.
The awards were presented to: 6U Braylen Coleman; 8U Jaiden (Cash) Choice (Received by his mother, Laquita Brooks); 10U – Jamir Kennedy (Received by his grandfather David Boyd); 12U – Messiah Hudgens
Last, but not least, our former Clinton Little Devils player, Zay Johnson stopped by the banquet after playing in the Shrine Bowl in Spartanburg. As stated in a Facebook post, he shared with the players about his experience playing with the Clinton Little Devils. He played with the CLD in 2017 at which time he aged out. That same year, he traveled with the CLD to Tennessee to play in the Gatlinburg Thanksgiving Bowl at the Rocky Top Sports World. He encouraged the players to work hard and not let anyone tell them they cannot do what they work hard to do. He also answered questions from some of the players.
Thank you, Zay, for being a great role model for our CLD players! Zay has graduated early from Clinton High School and will depart for the University of Cincinnati on January 5, 2024 on a full football scholarship. We are so proud of you Zay and we will see you in Cincinnati!!
