AMERICUS – On Saturday, November 3, several youth football teams from here in Sumter County, as well as Macon County, Houston County, Thomas County and Stewart County squared off in the third annual Miller Rush Bowl held at the Miller Rush Softball and Soccer Complex at the Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department (SCPRD) Park off of Highway 19.

The tournament is held in honor of Miller Rush, who ran the Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department for over 40 years.

“There are a total of 12 teams in the tournament, four from each division,” Miller Rush said.

According to Rush, there were teams in three different age divisions: The 7-8-year-old Division, the 9-10-year-old Division and the 11-12-year-old Division.

In the 7-8-year-old tournament, the Sumter County Panthers defeated the Houston County Warriors 7-0 in the semifinals. That meant they would play the winner between the Thomas County Tigers and the Macon County Bulldogs. Thomas County defeated Macon County by the score of 12-8. That meant Sumter County would take on Thomas County later that afternoon for the 7-8-year-old Division Championship. The Tigers of Thomas County ended up winning it by the score of 6-0.

In the 9-10-year-old Division, Sumter County took on Houston County and defeated the Warriors 47-0. Sumter County would now await the winner between the Stewart County Knights and the Macon County Bulldogs. Macon County ended up winning the game 35-0, setting up the championship game between Sumter County and Macon County. It was a hard-fought game, but the Panthers of Sumter County came away with the 9-10-year-old Division Championship by the score of 38-13.

In the 11-12-year-old Division, Sumter County squared off with Houston County in the morning. The Warriors of Houston County came away with a 20-8 victory.

In the other semifinal, also played that morning, Macon County played a team called the Seahawks and defeated them 25-0, setting up the 11-12-year-old Division Championship Game played at 5:30 p.m. The championship game was a hard-fought battle, but the Warriors of Houston dominated by the score of 38-6.