For young athletes, football is a family affair

Published 12:03 am Tuesday, October 29, 2013

A group of brothers and cousins played together on the Natchez Falcons youth football B and C teams this past season. Pictured are, clockwise from bottom, Jordan Berry, Landen Sewell, Trevon Henry,Terrell Penro, Joshua Trask Jr.  and Jacorian Sewell. Not pictured is Jamari Tenner. (Ben Hillyer \ The Natchez Democrat)

A group of brothers and cousins played together on the Natchez Falcons youth football B and C teams this past season. Pictured are, clockwise from bottom, Jordan Berry, Landen Sewell, Trevon Henry,Terrell Penro, Joshua Trask Jr. and Jacorian Sewell. Not pictured is Jamari Tenner. (Ben Hillyer \ The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — During the Natchez Falcons’ season, Jordan Berry got a glimpse of what it means for families sticking together.

The Falcons, which are divided into A, B and C teams based on age, were playing a Mississippi Youth Sports Association game when Berry, 7, was about to get hit by an opposing player. But Landen Sewell, Berry’s cousin who plays with him on the C team, had a key block to prevent Berry from getting hit.

“Landen stepped in the way and said, ‘You won’t hit my little cousin,’” Berry recalled.

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A total of seven brothers and cousins all played for the B and C squads this past season. Berry, Sewell and Jamari Tenner were all C-teamers, while Jacorian Sewell, Terrell Penro, Joshua Trask Jr. and Trevon Henry all played on the B team.

Candi Sewell-Berry, mother of Jordan Berry and Jacorian Sewell, said seeing the brothers and cousins play together causes her to reminisce about her and the other childrens’ parents doing the same.

“It’s awesome,” said Sewell-Berry. “Just to see them all grow up and play together, it reminds me of how we all grew up.”

Tiffany Woods, Henry’s mother, said the children are carrying on their family’s tradition in playing sports together.

“They’re picking up right where we left off,” Tiffany Woods said. “All of us grew up playing together — it’s a family affair.”

Demetris Sewell, Landen Sewell’s mother, said she’s glad the children are involved with youth sports together.

“Having them active at such a young age, it’s a great experience,” Demetris Sewell said. “They’re doing something positive, and they could be doing something negative.”

Tiffany Woods also said the Natchez Falcons stress the importance of good behavior and performing well in the classroom. All of the children are honor roll students, she said.

“It’s good motivation as far as grades go, because they know they can’t play without good grades,” Tiffany Woods said.

The biggest of the bunch is Trask, 11, who played nose guard and center for the Falcons’ B team. He said he takes it easy on his cousins and the rest of his teammates during practice.

“I hit them soft, but when we play the real game, I hit hard,” Trask said. “I don’t hit them hard in practice, because we need them in the game.”

Henry, who played quarterback for the B team, is the goofball of the group, and he said he enjoys being the center of attention.

“I like to boss everyone around,” Henry joked. “I tell them to let me get the ball. I can shape people up, throw them and run really fast.”

But like Landen Sewell did for Jordan Berry, Henry said he’s quick to throw a block for his family members if an opposing player is coming their way.

“I pop them so hard that they fall out of their shoes,” Henry said. “We can hit each other, but no one can hit us.”

And Henry insists that none of his family members ever fight one another.

“We play fight, but we don’t fight for real,” Henry said.

Jordan Berry echoed Henry’s sentiments, saying it wouldn’t be appropriate for infighting among the family.

“We all get along,” Jordan Berry said. “We don’t fight. We’re all cousins, and cousins don’t fight.”