CARLOS LARAESPADA JR. heaves the game-winning touchdown pass in double overtime.

THE BENICIA “Kansas State” Wildcats pose with their championship trophies after winning the Super Bowl of the Next Level Flag Football League.

The Benicia Wildcats won the Super Bowl of the Next Level Flag Football League with a 33-27 double-overtime victory over the Longhorns last Sunday at De La Salle High School in Concord.

The Wildcats, made up of Benicia first and second graders, avenged their only regular-season loss when quarterback Carlos Largaespada Jr. passed to Jax Core for the game-winning touchdown.

“The kids were on such an emotional high that they were crying at the end,” said Wildcats coach Carlos Largaespada Sr. “The perseverance these kids showed was amazing.”

Benicia jumped out to a quick 19-0 lead in the opening half when Core caught a touchdown pass, Zach Austria scored on a touchdown run and Terry Finn hauled in a TD pass from Largaespada Jr. But the Longhorns crawled back, scoring a touchdown with no time left on the clock in the first half and adding two quick touchdowns opening the second half to make it 19-19.

Bencia’s defense, led by A.J. Cabral, D.J. Asiasi, Owen Wittry, Myles Cooper and Dayton Bracelin, managed to contain the Longhorns’ best player and forced overtime. Core opened the first extra session with a touchdown grab and Finn added a 2-point conversion catch to make it 27-19, but the Longhorns answered with the tying TD and conversion to force a second overtime.

Cooper came up with the play of the day when he intercepted a pass in the end zone to deny the Longhorns, setting up Core for the winning TD catch.

Other key contributors for the Wildcats included Jake Holcomb and C.J. Tatro.

“There was a big crowd and everyone was going crazy,” Largaespada Sr. said. “We can’t wait to play again next year.”

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