League director Keven Barber, a Super Bowl-winning football coach for the Wesley Chapel Bulls in the former Pasco Police Athletic League, opted to keep things running on a limited basis rather than shut it down.

“We put it all together in four weeks,” said Barber, former standout football player who set rushing records at Land O’ Lakes High (Class of 1998).

The Coyotes, in conjunction with the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association, had their co-ed flag football season kick off in mid-September. Games are played on Wednesday nights with 12 teams in three divisions — two 6-and-under squads, four 9U and six 12U. A 14U division did not pan out.

While the Coyotes have competed in the Tri-County Conference in previous seasons, this year’s group is an in-house league. In all there are 115 players; mostly boys but with a few girls.

“We wanted to play tackle,” Barber said, referring to the wishes of several board members and coaches. “We play Hillsborough County teas and they don’t start till later. I didn’t want the kids sitting around.”

Some of the young players are from solid athletic bloodlines. For example, 4-year-old Jordy Johnson and his sister Cali, 5, are the children of parents Cypress Creek High football coach Mike Johnson and Danielle Johnson. The current principal at Pasco Middle set single-season and career scoring records in girls soccer at Zephyrhills High.