HD video highlights, photos of each game available for download
Sixty-four teams from around the nation will take over ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney Resort beginning Saturday, Dec. 1 when the 62nd edition of the Pop Warner Super Bowl championship tournament kicks off.
National champions will be crowned in five divisions based on age and weight – Jr. Pee Wee (ages 8-11), Pee Wee (ages 9-12), Jr. Varsity (ages 10-13), Varsity (ages 12-15) and Unlimited (11-14, 105-lb. minimum). Teams advanced to the Pop Warner Super Bowl by winning their respective league and regional championships. Each team is guaranteed two games at the Super Bowl, with a National Champion crowned in each age-weight division and competition level.
One of the most compelling story lines of this year’s tournament belongs to the Hoffman Estates Redhawks program out of suburban Chicago, which has brought at least one team to the Pop Warner Super Bowl for the eighth consecutive year, and has three teams competing this year.
The Redhawks will get things started Saturday, Dec. 1, in Division I Junior Varsity action when they face Menlo Atherton, also out of suburban Chicago. In the Division I Pee Wee bracket, set for Sunday, Dec. 2, at 6:00 p.m., Hoffman Estates will take on the Westside Wildcats – one of two teams from Jacksonville competing in this year’s tournament. Jacksonville’s other representative, the Division II Pee Wee Creeks Outlaws, will battle the Brick City Lions on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 1 p.m.
Six teams from South Florida and one from Central Florida qualified for the Pop Warner Super Bowl championship this year.
Below is a list of the six South Florida teams and their scheduled games this weekend:
Unlimited Division – Tacolcy Red Raiders vs. Naperville Chargers, Saturday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m.
Division I Varsity – Florida City Razorbacks vs. North Philadelphia Aztecs, Sunday, Dec. 2, at 11 a.m.
Division I Junior Varsity – Palmetto Raiders vs. North Raleigh Bulldogs, Sunday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m.
Division I Junior Pee Wee – Goulds’ Rams vs. East Bay Warriors, Sunday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m.
Division II Junior Pee Wee – Royal Palm Beach Wildcats vs. Coastal Eagles, Saturday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m.
Division II Junior Varsity – Palm Beach Gators vs. Milford Eagles, Saturday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m.
The Ocoee Bulldogs – Central Florida’s lone representative in this year’s championship – face Blackhawks AC in Division I Junior Varsity action Sunday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m.
The National Cheer & Dance Championships feature more than 400 cheer and dance teams that compete in a five-day event. Competitions take place at HP Field House. Cheer & Dance Squads compete in four different age ranges (Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Varsity & Varsity), among three group sizes (Small, Medium & Large), and eight YCADA Divisions (PW1, PW2, PW3 & PW4). The Dance teams compete in two competition categories (YCADA Pom Performance and Theme Dance).
Photo and video highlights from Saturday (Dec.1), Sunday (Dec.2), Tuesday (Dec.4), Wednesday (Dec. 5), Friday (Dec. 7) and Saturday (Dec. 8) will be available for download at box.com using:
PHOTOS/ box.com – Username: webupdate@popwarner.com
VIDEOS Password: PWLS#2018!
For photos and team updates, please contact csnider@ctpboston.com or bheffron@ctpboston.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Caitlin Snider, csnider@ctpboston.com, 508-353-0430
Brian Heffron, bheffron@ctpboston.com, 781-799-9568