By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Writer

I received an email last week requesting my attendance at what was essentially described as the game of the century last Saturday in Montevallo.

Being one to never turn down a free trip to a game of the century, I packed my bags, loaded up the truck and drove all of three blocks to Theron Fisher Stadium where I prepared myself for what could be the biggest moment in my journalism career.

It was beautiful day, arguably the prettiest one of 2013. It was a perfect day for football, as the trees that line the away side of the stadium were shifting from summer green to the orange, red and brown that comes with mid-fall. The afternoon sun was warm, with a northern wind blowing in across the deep blue sky. It was simply gorgeous.

I got there just in time to see the gladiators of the gridiron line up for their first offensive play. Here I was, watching the Montevallo Bulldogs Mites 5-6-year-old team take on the Columbiana Wildcats for the Division 1 League Championship. The first perfect season in Montevallo Mites football history was riding on the game.

The tensions were high, the stands were packed and the flavored snow cones were abundant as the Bulldogs got on the board first when Cordell Williams broke a 9-yard run. The two-point conversion was good, and the Bulldogs led 8-0.

The Wildcats pressed the Montevallo defense, but never broke the plane of the goal line as the Bulldogs captured a 36-0 win as well as the title.

Williams posted two touchdowns in the win, as both teams were awarded medals for their performances.

The Bulldogs, however, took home the big trophy — although several of the players had trouble lifting it.

The real winner in all this, though, wasn’t just the players, the coaches or even the parents. The real winner was — and is — the city of Montevallo. If the talent found in these youth divisions can stay together, they could be the group that helps bring Montevallo High School football back to its once-prominent place.