By Stephenie Steitzer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Lafayette Ballard, 8, of Downtown, with the Seven Hills Rams tries to get a little water during the first-ever Pee Wee league Super Bowl at Mariemont High School Sunday. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

MARIEMONT - Their team was about to win the first Greater Cincinnati Regional Super Bowl. But Deandre and teammate "Lil' Tank" couldn't have cared less.

Deandre Robinson, 4, with both his cleats untied, and Charles "Lil' Tank" Robinson, 5, were busy perfecting their flips off the bench, which wasn't much taller than the two Evanston Bulldogs.

Their team beat the Little Red Machine of Bond Hill 14-6 at Kusel Stadium Sunday morning to become the champion in the 5- and 6-year-old age group. "We're No. 1. We can't be No. 2," chanted some excited moms.

Afterward, when asked his position on the team, Deandre Robinson replied: "Football."

The stands were packed with cheering moms and dads, many wearing team sweatshirts and buttons with their sons' pictures. Announcers called the game from the press box and referees in real uniforms regulated the plays, or at least they tried to. Instead of TV crews, proud parents toted video cameras to record the action.

One of the organizers of the day, Myron Kilgore Jr., said the referees are more lenient about calling penalties on the 5-, 6- and 7-year olds.

"It's very instructive," he said. "Half the kids can't get up when they fall down."

And half the kids can't stand still on the sidelines as their teammates are trying to make big plays. Many instigated pushing matches with each other and practiced their head-butting techniques. After one of the coaches yelled for them to line up and sit down, they got quiet - for a few minutes.

Scores

Scores of the Greater Cincinnati Regional Super Bowl:

5 & 6 age group: Evanston 14, Little Red Machine (Bond Hill) 6

7 age group: Seven Hills (Forest Park) 24, Mason 6

8 age group: Seven Hills 14, Lincoln Heights 0

9 age group: Winton Woods North Central 50, Mason 0

10 age group: Hilltop (Mt. Healthy) 14, Little Red Machine 6

11 age group: Hilltop 32, Mason 0

12 age group: Winton Woods 24, Madisonville 0

Source: Event organizer Myron Kilgore Jr.