By Darrel Wheeler
Staff Writer
Balboa’s tough band of third graders suffered one defeat during the entire 2013 season, losing only to Otay Ranch’s Broncos in the final round of playoff action.
Otay’s victory prevented the number one ranked Raiders from advancing to last season’s Q-Bowl championship game.
After Balboa’s devastating loss, the Silver & Black Attack got a shot at redemption in Las Vegas’s annual youth football tournament. Otay Ranch also made the trip to sin city.
Balboa’s Mighty Mites were hoping to challenge the team that battered, bruised and beat the proud Raiders, however that match up would never happen.
“In Vegas we defeated the team that beat Otay Ranch. I wanted to play Otay again and I know we could have beat them this time, but they lost so we didn’t get a chance to play them,” Head coach Ronnie Hill said.
The Raiders defeated the best competition that Las Vegas had to offer and returned to San Diego as the only team from America’s Finest City to win a national championship title.
Balboa’s future role models got suited and booted for some good old camaraderie memory, sharing and giving closure to a outstanding season.
“Our season was very good. It was hard sometimes getting through everything, but we have good coaches and they taught us a lot. We have a great team and I hope we will all come back next year,” said team MVP K. Calvin.
After all the blood sweat and tears of the football season Balboa coaches and parents treated the little champs to an awards ceremony complete with food, photo albums, trophies, applause, hugs and rings at the SD Elks Club.
“This is a great group of kids. They really play well together and they played hard, we also have a great coaching staff with the same goals for these kids, this team is the future of Balboa,” Raider coach Whitfield said.
The coaches took turns on the microphone expressing their appreciation for the parents and their priceless contributions to the Mighty Mite championship season.
Can the high achieving Raiders continue their commitment to excellence next season? “With out a doubt,” said head coach Ronnie Hill.
