The Kid’s Football League unveiled a new style of play on opening day Saturday in what they call the Rookie League.
In the debut, the Vikings beat the 49ers 32-29, and the Jets beat the Seahawks 8-6. Hunter Nealen, a player for the Vikings, scored the first touchdown of Rookie League play at College View Middle School.
The rookie division is for 1st and 2nd graders. It was created to help children transition from flag football to the full-contact, full-field level of competition. The Rookie League plays 8-on-8, and it has a limited playbook and a smaller field.
Players move on to the full team and field in the 3rd and 4th-grade division, and the final division is for 5th and 6th grade — 7th-graders are allowed if they don’t turn 13 in the calendar year.
Here’s the breakdown of the rest of the scoring for the two Rookie Division games:
Vikings 32, 49ers 29
6-0 — Vikings’ Hunter Nealen scores a touchdown
6-8 — 49ers’ Eli Hamilton threw a touchdown pass to Jayson Crawford; Hamilton ran in the 2-point conversion
6-16 — 49ers’ Crawford scores a touchdown; Hamilton scores the 2-point conversion
12-16 — Vikings’ Brantley Dunn scores a touchdown
12-23 — 49ers’ Crawford scores a touchdown; Cole Howard scores the extra point
19-23 — Vikings’ Keegan Lantrip recovers a fumble and runs it back for a touchdown; Nealen scores the extra point
26-23 — Vikings’ Nealen scores a touchdown; Berkley Porter scores the extra point
32-23 — Vikings’ Nealen scores a touchdown
32-29 — 49ers’ Corbin Downing scores a touchdown
Jets 8, Seahawks 6
6-0 —Seahawks’ Brennan Dant rushes for a touchdown
6-2 — Jets’ London Blair records a safety
6-8 — Jets’ JoJo Stracener rushes for a touchdown
Other scores for KFL:
FLAG DIVISION — played at College View Middle School
Buccaneers 29, Rams 13
Steelers 6, Saints 0
Jaguars 29, Ravens 13
Steelers 24, Texans 13
Saints 25, Buccaneers 0
3RD-4TH GRADE DIVISION — played at McLean County High School
Bears 20, Falcons 12
Patriots 18, Titans 12
Colts 21, Bills 0
Packers 13, Lions 6
5TH-6TH GRADE DIVISION — played at McLean County High School
Redskins 42, Eagles 0
Chargers 40, Broncos 0
Cowboys 21, Giants 0
Chiefs 26, Raiders 0
