By: Damian C. Reynolds

Playoffs start this weekend for one local football conference. Thirty-two teams will compete, with participants from ages 6 to 12. You may follow high school and college football, but don’t forget this group. Dunta Robinson, a former Clarke Central Gladiator who went on to play for the University of South Carolina then the Atlanta Falcons, made his mark in this league.

The 50-year-old Northeast Georgia Football conference consists of 10 youth organizations from Athens. Melvin Hayes has been around the league for 20 of those years. He says the league is important because it brings families together.

“It is important to build relationships with young people,” Hayes said. “Coaches volunteer their time. You have dads who, from time to time, want to spend time with their children. So this gives them an opportunity to build a relationship and spend some quality time with their children.”

All games will be played at Athens Christian School. Championships take place on Nov. 22.