By Haley Mitchell Godwin

The Brantley Bulldogs Youth Football League closed their 2022 season Nov. 19 with the third-annual Turkey Bowl held inside the David Lowery Stadium.
Over 25 young athletes, representing six youth football programs, participated in this year’s Turkey Bowl tournament.

The Brantley Tiny Mites, coached by Justin Ray, Brett Green, Scott Crawford, and Eric Nelson, racked up a Turkey Bowl tournament win. The Tiny Mites scored 152 points this season and allowed 12. They lost only one regular season game during the 2022 season, to Kinston. The team faced Kinston once more in the championship game where they faced another loss.

Coach Justin Ray said he is pleased with the effort the Tiny Mites put into the 2022 season.

“The future is very bright for these little Bulldogs,” Ray said. “I am extremely proud of this group of boys and how they have battled all season. They never backed down from a challenge and they are making a name for themselves.”
Highland Home faced Georgiana in the termite Turkey Bowl championship game, winning with a last-second touchdown.

Daleville topped McKenzie by nearly 50 points in the pee wee division.
A food drive was held in conjunction with the Turkey Bowl. Over 100 nonperishable items were collected and donated to local community members as needed.

Bobby Phillips, of Brantley, took on the role of president for the Brantley Bulldogs Youth Football program in 2018.
Phillips said he is very grateful for the turnout at the Turkey Bowl and for the community support throughout the season.

“We had an awesome, fun-filled day of football at the Turkey Bowl,” Phillips said. “I want to thank the players, coaches, parents, fans, the volunteers, Brantley School for allowing us to always use their facilities and the out of town teams that came to play. Thanks is due to Matthew and Tooney Morgan and the fabulous job they and their team do in the concession stand. We sold out of everything at the Turkey Bowl. We appreciate Bill Duke and his family, his barbeque, and their donations to the league.”

Sign ups for the 2023 season will be held in April at the Brantley Fire Department. All children from 5-12 years of age can register.