Pompano Cowboys gridders push for comeback season
The Pompano Cowboys varsity football team, a member of the competitive Gold Coast Pop Warner League, defended its home turf at McNair Park by blanking the Lauderhill Broncos, 28-0.
The convincing win improved the Cowboys’ record to 4-2, but head coach Jeffrey Standifer and his players know they still have their work cut out for them if they want to become Super Bowl champions.
Standifer, a Pompano resident, has been coaching for more than 20 seasons. A majority of the team members are the same players Standifer coached to within one game of the Super Bowl two seasons ago. Last season, though, the team didn’t play. Their coach hopes the resurgent Cowboys can make this year a big one.
“The strength of our team is our D [defensive] line, and we are working on our cornerback positions,” Standifer said. “This year it’s Super Bowl or bust. Next year most of the team will be heading off to high school, so this will be the last chance for the kids to play together as a team. Last year they took off a year to get their grades up, but now everybody has those grades, which is good.”
There is plenty of depth on the team this season, with 30 players ranging in age from 14 to 16. One of the Cowboy players who stood out against the Broncos was Dewante Deas, who lined up at multiple positions.
“He’s my go-to guy,” Standifer said. “Deas is my punt returner, kickoff return specialist, wide receiver, running back or quarterback. He is a threat every time he touches the ball.”
Deas, a 15-year-old Pompano native, usually plays for the Cowboys at running back or safety; at his Blanche Ely High School, he said, he might be a wide receiver. The speedster scored three touchdowns during the game, with a long score of over 80 yards. Three other long touchdown runs were called back due to penalties.
“Our defense is the strength of our team,” Deas said. “To win we’ll need to hold our blocks and stop arguing when things go wrong. We definitely need to be more disciplined.”
Standing in the Cowboys’ way will be the archrival Pompano Chiefs, who showed their dominance earlier in the season when the teams met on the gridiron. They are scheduled to face off one more time before the playoffs begin.
“This year it’s Super Bowl or bust. Next year most of the team will be heading off to high school, so this will be the last chance for the kids to play together as a team.” — Jeffrey Standifer, Pompano Cowboys varsity football team coach