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Thirty-eight seconds remained on the clock. With his team up by just one point, a lead that the Cape Coral offense could quickly overtake, Naples Hurricane middle linebacker Robert Green dropped back into position.

On first and ten, the Hurricane pass rush had the Cape quarterback in their grasp when he launched a pass from his own eighteen yard-line.

“I could see it was going to be a big opportunity,” Green recalled. “I took it.”

Green grabbed the opportunity and the interception, and scampered into the end zone to seal the 21-12 win for the ‘Canes in the Peace River Conference football quarterfinals, Saturday, Oct. 25, at Immokalee High School.

The Junior Pee Wees earned the right to play Riverdale next Saturday at Riverdale for the chance to play in the conference championships.

“It’s not going to be easy,” the ten-year-old Green said when asked about the next opponent. “We will need to keep our focus, stay away from the penalties and really just stay in the game. If we get out of it and let them get their points, it will be tough to get back in.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Walker knows that for his team to defeat Riverdale they will need their secret weapon – his son, ten-year-old Michael.

Following the game-ending interception, old number three went storming onto the field. He had been taken out of the game in the first half after scoring the ‘Canes second touchdown, to rest a sprained MCL incurred at practice earlier in the week. He wanted to hold for the kick and the older Walker could see the anxiousness in his eyes, but with a smile he said, “I know you want to buddy, but we can’t risk you getting hurt again.”

It would be a risk, considering Walker’s accomplishments on the field.

In eight games this season, the tailback has 1,600 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns, averaging 14 yards per carry. Over the past three seasons, Walker ran for over 4,300 yards and 68 touchdowns.

“I am just out there doing my best,” Walker said. “Things have gone pretty good. If we want to keep playing, we need to keep our intensity level up.”

Walker says that his favorite play is their “46” when he takes the ball around the tightend behind the ‘Canes two biggest linemen, but nothing makes him smile more then when you mention his cutback ability, a second-nature type move that even Cape Coral players mentioned during an hour-long lightening delay Saturday afternoon.

“That’s him - number three,” they would say. “That’s the one that has all those kids turning their ankles.”

For Walker it’s just fun.

“I really like to cutback,” he said. “Just when I think I am tackled, I look and if there is no one there I just change directions. Then it’s wide open.”

His play makes it look as easy as his words make it sound.

Walker will need his best game when they face Riverdale.

The (8-1) Pee Wee Hurricanes’ only loss of the season came at the hands of Riverdale in a 40-0 romp. Riverdale’s undefeated regular season earned them a first round bye and the right to host the conference semifinals. Riverdale has not been scored upon since giving up 19 points in a season opening win against Clewiston. Since then, all but two of their games were 40-0 victories.

Green, a fifth grader at Royal Palm Academy, calls Riverdale easily the toughest team they have played all season.

“This win (against Cape Coral) means a lot to us,” said Green who also plays fullback when on offense. “But now that we have won, we need to get our act straight and our offense together.”

The Hurricane defense has given up only ten touchdowns all season.

Head coach Brad Simmons said that while he gives the kids all the credit for the win, the down-to-the-gun play in the final seconds against Cape nearly gave the coaches all heart attacks.

“It’s about the kids enjoying themselves,” Simmons said. “Winning on the field and winning in life.”

Simmons thought “Game over!” to himself when he saw Green’s interception calling it simply, “one great play” and looks forward to having Walker back on the field this Saturday.

“He is missed when he is not out there,” Simmons said. “But the team rallied without him. It wasn’t pretty, but we got it done.

Walker’s dad is also anxious for his son to get back on the field saying, “He shows great leadership through his work ethic. He gives everything he has whether it’s practice or a game.”

The majority of the Pee Wee 10- and 11-year-old players have been playing together for the past four years. They advanced to the playoffs last season, but were knocked out in the first round by the Naples Bears.

Other key players include outside linebacker and running back Gage Rion, outside linebacker Trey Pierce and quarterback George Denove.

In other youth football action, the Junior Pee Wee Naples Bears defeated Port Charlotte, 12-6, Oct. 25 and will face Clewiston in the conference semifinals, Nov. 1. Following the Naples Hurricanes Midgets 21-6 defeat of Suncoast, they will take on Charlotte this Saturday along with the Naples Bears against Lehigh in the same division. The Pee Wee division Naples Bears will face Englewood.