The Arbutus Big Red semipro football team captured the Mason Dixon Football League championship in Wilmington, N.C., on Oct. 24 and returned to a heroes' welcome at Arbutus Middle School a day later.

Cheerleaders, Arbutus Athletic Association players and fans from the community were so excited about the 6-3 victory over the Wilmington Tigers, they celebrated twice.

That was after one of the buses arrived at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, and the second bus, which broke down, didn't arrive until 8 p.m.

It didn't seem to matter to the appreciative fans.

"The cheerleaders headed it up and they got everybody pumped up," Arbutus coach George Kendrick said. "It was a really nice gesture."

Kendrick made his own nice gesture before the Big Red's fourth championship since 1982 and first since 1998 when he suggested both teams meet at midfield before the game to honor Wilmington's head coach, William Murphy, 74, who died unexpectedly a week before the championship game.

Once the players took the field, both stellar defenses were in charge.

South Division champion Wilmington (11-1-1, 9-1-1 league) built a 3-0 lead against the Big Red (14-3, 11-3) on a 42-yard field goal by Rico Hernandez in the first quarter.

Arbutus kicker Ryan McGowan booted the equalizer on a 25-yard field goal with five minutes left in the half.

The Arbutus defense, led by Matt Foster, Dino Sylvia, Brendon Twilley, Charles Kirby and Chris Detty bent, but didn't break in the second half.

Meanwhile, the offense maintained control thanks to error-free play from quarterback Cory Whittington, who relied on short passes to Paul Thompson and solid running from Mike Corbitt.

Finally, the Big Red advanced deep into enemy territory with five minutes left in the fourth quarter and McGowan connected on another 25-yard field goal.

With a minute left in the contest, Wilmington drove to the Arbutus 10-yard line and lined up for a short tying field goal that Detty, 38, the oldest player on the team, blocked.

After the game, Detty came up to Kendrick and showed him his bruised elbow, telling the veteran coach, "I wish this could stay forever."

"It was a great offensive and defensive game," Kendrick said. "It was a great team effort."

Arbutus Big Red players and fans will celebrate the championship with a dance and party from 8 p.m-12 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21.

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