Citizen Staff Writer
By MIKE CHESNICK
mchesnic@tucsoncitizen.com
The Marana Broncos Peewee team gave new meaning to dominant this season.
The Broncos outscored opponents 501-20 and won the Youth Football and Spirit Federation national title in Orlando, Fla.
“It felt really good,” quarterback Chris Howard, 13, said after the Broncos beat defending the national champion Inglewood (Calif.) Seminoles 30-12 for the championship in December. “We were running around and jumping up and down.”
The next week, the Division II Broncos beat the Division I Eagles 24-8 in the Dust Devil Classic, a bowl between Tucson’s best Peewee teams. The score was tied at 8 at halftime.
In Orlando, the Broncos jumped out to a 16-0 lead before Inglewood got two touchdowns before halftime. It was the first time the Broncos had been scored on this year.
The Broncos raised $28,000 to make the Orlando trip, holding fund-raisers, including car washes.
“Orlando was a great experience for our team,” head coach Steve Karp said. “Our kids will never forget it.”
The Broncos were led by Howard, running back KaDeem Carey and fullback-linebacker Stuart Karp, the coach’s son.
Other players include Andrew Applegate, Kelton Beattie, John T. Benson, Robert Contreras, Cameron Craig, Derek Cromwell, Brendin Delaney, Rolly Escarcega, Ben Frjardo, Nathan Gee, Clayton Hyatt, Max Johnson, Nick Johnson, Jalen Kennedy, Conner Larson, Tony Maldonado, Jason McBrayer, Malcolm Milner, Nate Pitts, Aaron Pollitt, Matt Pope, Corey Riccardi and Cameron Vissers.
The Broncos are the second straight local team to win a Peewee title. The Oro Valley Dolphins took the national crown in 2003 and placed second in the junior midget event this season after losing the title game.