Robins youth team wins football championship Published Oct. 26, 2007 By Amanda Creel 78 ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- The Robins Falcons youth center tackle football team was named the 2007 Optimist Bowl champions after beating the Perry Stallions 13-7 in the bowl championship game Oct. 20. The 11- and 12-year-old football players took the title in the 50th annual Optimist Bowl at McConnell-Talbert Stadium in Warner Robins. The game started slow with neither team able to get inside the end zone during the first half. "They (the Stallions) scored first in the third quarter and then we came right back for the tie," said Earl Billingsley, the team's assistant coach, who stood in for the team's head coach, Staff Sgt. Roosevelt Marks, who was recently deployed causing him to miss the postseason action. Mr. Billingsley said the team rallied together after the Perry Stallions took the lead and fought to stay in the game. "They said they were going to march right back down the field and they did," he said. "When they rallied together it seemed like the momentum started right then." The score remained tied through the fourth quarter sending the teams to overtime to vie for the championship. Robins scored an unanswered touchdown during the overtime battle. "We held them on four downs and took the win," Mr. Billingsley said. "It was great to see them come alive as a team. I was just so proud." Both of Robin's touchdowns were scored by 12-year-old, Decoda Davis who plays fullback for the Falcons. "The best part of the game was scoring the touchdowns. It felt real good to hear everyone cheering your name," Decoda said. However, he said he wouldn't have been able to land in the end zone twice without his teammates' efforts on the field. "They did real good blocking and tackling, so I could make the touchdowns," Decoda said. "We knew it was going to be a good game and it felt really good to win."