Left to right: Ian Byrne, Peter Taylor, Patrick Sweeney, Sean Kennefick (Courtesy photo)
Coached by Mike Taylor, the Ayer-Shirley Broncos American Youth Football team won the Super Bowl of Massachusetts, the state championship. The team included four eighth-grade students from Harvard: defensive end Sean Kennefick, halfback Peter Taylor, defensive end Patrick Sweeney, and offensive end Ian Byrne. The team of seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-graders went on to win the New England semifinal, beating the former state champions from New Hampshire. The Broncos finished the season 12−1, going all the way to the New England championship for their final game. To celebrate their winning season the town of Shirley invited the team to a special ceremony at Town Hall.
