Hoffman Estates football team advances to Pop Warner national finals
A Hoffman Estates-based youth football team is one win away from a national title after defeating a team from New Jersey on Tuesday in the 2014 Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando.
The Hoffman Estates Redhawks Junior Pee Wees topped the Watchung Wolverines 35-12 to set up Friday's championship game against the Deer Valley (Arizona) Snakes. The game will be played at 7:30 a.m. and broadcast live online on ESPN3.
The Junior Pee Wees are made up of 9-11 year olds from Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Hanover Park, Elk Grove Village, Bartlett, Roselle and Elgin. The team is coached by Rick Cyr of Elk Grove Village.
The Redhawks earned the trip to the Pop Warner national tournament by winning the Mid-America Regional championships as part of a 13-0 season. They opened the tournament in Orlando with an 18-12 victory over the Stanley (North Carolina) Blue Devils on Saturday.
The Redhawks' Pee Wee team, made up of 10-12 years olds, also won their division of the Mid-America Regional championships and a trip to nationals. They lost 20-0 in their opening game to the Colorado Springs War Dogs, but came back Tuesday to beat the Mt. Hope (Rhode Island) Cowboys by a 20-6 score.
Redhawks officials said the trip to Orlando cost up to $1,200 per player, and though the team is partially funded, they still are trying to raise $25,000 to help defray the costs. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/hy2p2g.