The 1996 Brookline Termites ended the Knight's five-year drought by bringing home the W.P.Y.F.L. season championship with a 14-6 victory over Lawrenceville at Montour Stadium. The Termites joined the equally devine Midget champions in catapulting the Brookline program back to prominence on the Western Pennsylvania youth football scene.

Under the guidance of coaches Pat Quinn, Joe Diven, Earl Taylor, Bill Blake and Dan McCann, the young Knights of Brookline completed their season with an 8-2 record. The title was the first for a Knight's Termite team since 1990 and the third Termite title overall in twenty years of Brookline football.

The Termites finished the regular season with a 6-2 slate and a second-place finish. The first round playoff game was held November 9 at Brookline's McGibbeny Field versus a talented South Fayette team. On a muddy field, Brookline ran away with the contest, 24-8, to advance to the title game.

November 16 was another wet Sunday afternoon, and the showdown between Brookline and Lawrenceville had all the makings of a classic gridiron battle. Lawrenceville had beaten Brookline by a hair in an early season game, and both teams were evenly matched.

The less than ideal field conditions and tenacious defense by both teams kept the game close. A touchdown run by Ross Ventrone gave Brookline an 8-6 edge, and a late touchdown by Knight E.J. Taylor made it 14-6. The Termite defense then shut the door and the Knights never looked back.

With these talented players ready to move on to the Mitey-Mite and Midget teams in the coming few years, the future is looking bright for Brookline Knights Football.

Note: The core group of kids from this Knight's championship team went on to capture championships with the 2000 Midgets and the 1998 Mitey-Mites, completing what could be refered to as the Triple Crown of youth football. Quite an accomplishment for a great group of kids from Brookline!

1996 Brookline Knights Termites - WPYFL Champions

Some photos from the Playoff game.
* November 9, 1996 *

Photo 1 <> Photo 2 <> Photo 3

Some photos from the Championship game.
* November 16, 1996 *

Photo 4 <> Photo 5 <> Photo 6 <> Photo 7 <> Photo 8

The Cheerleaders

* Photos courtesy of Carol Taylor *