The Brookfield Bobcats Midget Football Team won the 2011 National Championship 34-26 over the East St. Louis Flyers at Orlando, Florida’s ESPN Wide World of Sports.

The Bobcats took the opening kickoff and marched 66 yards capped off by a Austin Reich’s (22 carries for 151 yards) 16-yard touchdown run to make it 8-0. The Flyers answered right back with a drive of their own to make it 8-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The Bobcats came right back, after a Sam Flynn interception, as Bobby Drysdale (28 carries for 188 yards) scored from 1 yard out after a Nick Acquanita to Nick Seis 25-yard pass set it up at the 1 to stretch the lead to 16-7. The Flyers once again answered right back with two quick scores to take the lead 20-16 with 5:43 left in the first half. But the bobcats were not to be denied as another Acquanita to Seis pass set up another Drysdale score to make it 22-20 Brookfield at the half.

After the Flyers received the opening kick off of the second half, Kyle Madden recovered an East St. Louis fumble at midfield and eight plays later Andrew Collins took it in from 10 yards out to increase Brookfield’s lead to 28-20 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.

The Brookfield defense, lead by Reich (12 tackles), Drysdale (10 tackles) and Seis (10 tackles), came up with a huge three-and-out and then the Brookfield offense again took control of the game with a 62-yard drive capped off by Drysdale’s third touchdown of the game as he went 22 yards around right end to make it 34-20 Bobcats.

The Flyers scored with 18 seconds left to cut the lead to 34-26, but time ran out on the East St. Louis Flyers as the Brookfield Bobcats claimed the 2011 National Championship.

The team will close out their Florida trip on Saturday against Team Canada in an international contest. With the win, the Bobcat’s improved their season record to 14-0.