Two of Tucson’s teams that competed this week in the American Youth Football National Championships will be featured during our High School Sports Preview Show at Wings Over Broadway at Camino Seco tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.
The 10U Southwest Rams, coached by O.J. Flores, went 2-1 in the tournament, reaching the championship game. They lost to the Moval (Calif.) Falcons 22-7 at Kissimmee, Fla., near Orlando.
The 14U All-Stars, featuring many players who will play at the varsity level next season in high school as freshmen, went 3-0 in their bracket and earned a conference championship trophy. Coach Clarence “Bam” McRae, a former Pueblo High School and Arizona standout, coached the 14U team to the national title game, which it lost to New Jersey 24-8.
Flores posted the following message of the Rams’ accomplishment on Facebook:
We Belong!!! The 10U Rams’ amazing 2019 football season has come to a end. Although we ran out of time in the National Championship in Orlando, Florida, it has still been a legendary ride. These boys came together to lace up cleats when they were 5-6 years old. Now we head back to Tucson with 3 Consecutive City Championships, 3 Undefeated seasons, only one loss in the past 4 years, and in our 1st year of eligibility we won a Desert Mountain Regional Championship, a run at a national championship were we earned a spot in the National Championship game, and walked out the #2 Team in the Country. I am proud of all my boys. We are not a All Star team who recruits. We are 28 kids and 10 coaches from the south side of Tucson who love football and hard work. We have overcome so much to be where we are at. From nay sayers and doubters to recruiting (or at least attempts to) our kids and “super teams” being built just to knock us down. Commitment, Dedication and Perseverance are the pillars of football. And that’s why our team is where they are at. We are fortunate to have a tremendous amount of support from our community and I would like to thank them. First and foremost our organization the SW Rams and its Board President Marcos Romero and Vice Presidents Alfredo Mesa and Richard Drow. Also a huge thank you to TYF President Julius Holt, Manager Margie Nelson and Commissioner Don R. Riley for your support and guidance at Nationals along with DM Regional Commissioner James McKinney.
We also are thankful for support from:
JET Sports Training (Bobby Jet Rodriguez), Frankies Auto Collision (Pancho Heredia), American Eat Co. (Los Gallegos), The Gonzales Law Firm (Rick Gonzales), Homesmart Real Estate Agent (Denise Flores),
CDFI of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Rollies Mexican Patio (Mateo Otero), and The Kyle Valenzuela Foundation.
Without you all this trip would not have been possible.
And the BIGGEST SHOUT OUT goes to our 10U Families for making this trip happen and for just about every single one of you, and even some extended family, who made the trip to Florida to be the loudest and most known group. And for anyone who has attempted to hang with this group, you know what I’m talking about. Our success is a product of your commitment to this team.
To my coaches, my brothers, and the best coaching staff ever assembled. I couldn’t imagine doing all this without you all. My Business Manager Yizza Mares, you deal with a lot, most don’t realize, and without you, our team would not be where they are at. Thank you!
Ultimately, this is only the beginning. We have more football, more opportunities and more development to come. We fought at Nationals, we competed at the highest level. And what did we learn, everyone has had the 10U Southwest Rams on the top of their list of teams to watch out for. We belong at the national level. And WE WILL BE BACK!!! 2020 Rams 11U is now under construction.
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